coffee
	
	I'll see you in my dreams she said
	then they let the gate down
	unplugged the coffee
			-John Ashbery
	

behind me as i sipped, craving desolation, a man said "Sir, 
do you have a cell phone, I have to reach my doctor"
with the oval tones and round stare of one, 
you imagine, who would fumble the phone earnestly

having no phone i said i was sorry 
then turned to the window and saw a young woman 
with carefree hairdo
look at her phone as she hurried past
inverse to what seemed her crying
following her long nose, evading lying?

opera played in the shop

a man leaned on his hand at a table 
then was gone 

i'll have a pound of rainforest organic, if you please,
that the muse might further avail
from the crashing tops of those highmonkey trees



© Copyright 2002 Peter Chapman

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