OVERHEARD.

ON A CONVERSATION OVERHEARD IN A CAFÉ.

I was sitting
in my favourite café
sipping an iced coke
when this dame

behind me
(in conversation
with some guy) said
and he already

owes me
a thousand pounds
in maintenance
for the kids

(the kids came
into view now
and then
as they played

around the tables
nearby)  
and he wanted them
as much as I

the guy she was with
pumped her questions
about the marriage
(maybe he was a friend

or perhaps
he was hoping
to get his leg over
somewhere

along the line
of time)
and he seldom visits
she said

and every child
needs a father
but they
rarely see him

and I say to him
you need to see
your children more
(the guy's voice

behind me is soft
and concerning)
children need a father
need that security

he said
I tried not to listen
just sipped my coke
looking at the people

nearby who I could see
but all the while
this dame's voice
opens up and continues

mind you
he never was
much of a lover
no?

the guy said
well not
100% committed
she said

there was always
something else
going on his head
you know what I mean?

she said
mm-mm
the guy said
and I imagined

he nodded his head
(maybe thinking
I'd be a much better
lover than he)

I allowed
a cube of ice
to enter my mouth
cold it rattled

against my teeth
how long is
he going to leave it?
she said

the back payments
are already a thousand
and I have the kids
to feed and clothe

and the mortgage to pay
and Daddy
will only pay so much
she said

the guy fed her
more questions
I didn't quite catch
the words

(quiet speaker
unlike her
who spoke loud)
she laughed

and I sipped
more coke
trying to listen in
on the words

of the joke
jazz was being played
from the in house radio
some Miles Davis

I think
early stuff
I drained the remains
of my coke

and got up
put on my cap
and grabbed my stick
and as I turned

I casually gave
the dame a look
(a kind of fill in
for my picture book)

a blonde
thin
young
and the guy

plump
older
balding
in a tee-shirt

and jeans
as I walked off
with my stick
and a head full

of information
I gave them
one last look
back at their table

I couldn't see them
as bed fellow
least not
in my book.