The two of them are sitting on chairs,
one behind the other,
like a couple in a canoe
or strangers on a packed double decker
bus. If this wasn’t a pub
this could be a dentist’s waiting room
or a church confessional. The guy
at the back of the canoe is throwing
small talk against his mate’s skull.
They’re chatting about work, children,
their health conditions. It’s a shame
their faces are allergic to looking
at each other. They need to see
each other’s smiles.

© Carl Burkitt 2023