Ronald Hughes

Waiting

The man waiting
In a coffee shop
giving his ears to
patrons with accents

waiting
to catch a whiff
of her perfume
breathing the acrid smoke
of cigars and cigarettes

waiting
to see her
through his own thin reflection
in the shop's window
watching patrons who don't see him

waiting
to taste her lips
eating stale danishes
and devouring himself

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