Cafés

There are days
when I sit alone in cafés
with coffee as my friend
and a book as my reason
for why I stay so long

Pretending not to watch
not seeing anyone
I stare at my book
and make out I read
when all the while
I sneak a look
I hear their talk

It seems to me
many are short on luck
so much dreaming
of all they can’t have
and some
have dreamed so large
it shatters their soul

I wondered why
I waste my time
love to stay
in the company of cafés
what was this fascination
turned to addiction?

I sit in cafés
because I need to know
I’m not the only one
it’s not just me
who is short on luck
not just me
who’s afraid to dream
not only I
whose soul needs repair

Reviews

[alifeacoustic]

This is uncannily similar to the reason I also find reasons to linger in cafe's, long after the froth has turned to gloop. It is a lovely experience to just sit and listen, (while reading) listening and catching glimpses of lives you take back home to wonder about.
Beautifully eloquent and thought provoking write. I need to go for a coffee soon, it's been too long.

[Suzy Hazelwood]

It is, and something I should do a lot more on my own. I'm often with a friend or a relative when eating out and that changes what you observe. I even have a café just round the corner from where I live, but I hardly ever go in there. This poem is a bit of fiction really, but is loosely based on times when I have done that very thing - alone.

So sorry for this ridiculously late reply, not sure how I missed this for so long!!!

[alifeacoustic]

ha, no worries. I do believe you are a busy lady, what with the writing garden and all manner of other things, which just goes to show that you so should take a little time out and have a café moment. It's like your own personal TV channel, watching the world go by a window as you just watch and be :)

[LesliePurdy]

Oh my goodness , think leslie think , yes I like this work , goes quite smoothly ,a nice relaxing read, BUT , and that's a big BUT ,where's the nitty gritty , You know, that funny woman in the corner with a book, looking around ,like a SPY.

[Suzy Hazelwood]

Thank you Leslie! Oh yes, there's always a funny one in the corner of a café, often it's me...haha!! :oD

Sorry for the late reply, I've been taking a break from posting on blogs etc. I get a bit worn out with all the commenting, and posting things after a while, need a break every now and then. Just about to start on the next issue of the magazine and then I shall be back.

[Roland Petrov]

And that's why we're at the Writers Café after Jottify's implosion. Good luck with the competition; this one looks like a formidable entry to me.

[Suzy Hazelwood]

How did you know I'd entered it into a competition? Not much on here is private ...haha!! To be honest Roland I'm finding the completions a bit confusing I'm getting so many messages in my mail box about new competitions and results of competitions, I don't know what's what any more. Not sure I'll be entering any more competitions, it's not really my kind of thing anyway. Fun for those who like it though.

[Roland Petrov]

Fun once in a while for me but certainly not every day.

[Nadia Gerassimenko]

Very interesting perspective. I never knew that some solitary coffee goers stay there for that purpose with their coffee and books covering the underlying reason. But I also tend to go to cafes with a book and just observe and listen to others from afar. I always am fascinated by people's behaviors and facial expressions. I guess I am a bit of an anthropologist hehe!

One suggestion, I think you meant to write "whose" in the last line of the last stanza.

[Suzy Hazelwood]

There are definitely serious coffee bar addicts - 'for the company' not the coffee!! I've rarely done this, but when I have it's been interesting what I've picked up, can be very useful for writing. Observations of the human kind is a useful tool - in many ways!

Yes, you're right I did mean whose. How did I miss that?!!! Recently I've been mixing up my here's and hear's, and so on... I know them, just keep typing the damn wrong one - driving me crazy!! Thanks so much for pointing that out! :o)

[Bear]

Nice narrative styling! People watching has to be the most popular form of entertainment in the world so your poem is very relate able. You have a nice talent of expressing your thoughts with a clarity that many turn muddy trying to sound witty. This is smartly written and a pleasure to read, thank you I look forward to reading more of your work.

[Suzy Hazelwood]

I think it must be, and one of the easiest to engage in too! I try and avoid the mud if at all possible - haha!! :oD And thank so much for your kind review Bear, very helpful!

[Relic]

It's comforting in a weird kind of way to know we're not the only ones with troubles and worries. This is great from start to finish and the picture compliments the poem well. Great stuff.

[Suzy Hazelwood]

Haha...yes it is in a weird kind of way! It's good to keep it in mind, creates a good balance on life, thank you!! :o)

[....................]

A great piece, Suzy... it captured me and held me right to the end and then some... I, too, was in the cafe, doing the same... observing; hoping I was not alone in my quest to find answers and reasons in the conversations between and looks on the faces of those around me...

[Suzy Hazelwood]

So pleased to hear it transported you, thank you! I was kind of there myself when I wrote it, but only with my writers head! ;o)

[....................]

The best cafe ever :)

[Kelly Scheppers]

I was totally absorbed, like I was there, sitting in a corner booth. My, my, you are a wonderfully, gifted writer!

[Suzy Hazelwood]

Thank you so much Kelly, you are very generous in all your comments, I really appreciate that!♥ This was originally written for my Tumblr poetry blog, and I was writing for the character I write about (as though I was the character) it's a lot less boring than writing about myself all the time! ;o)

Although I have actually done this on a rare occasions. I've posted this in collection of different places and a lot people do seem to warmly relate to this subject of being in cafés and observing people, the world around them. It shouldn't have been a surprise to me really, writers are bound to do that - we all observe in much more detail than probably most people do. And who doesn't like cafés?!

[Kelly Scheppers]

You are just wonderful to read. I look forward to reading more of you, Suzy!