waiting for the woman
outside a downtown cafe
we’re to go have coffee
& suddenly I see me
coming out of a shop
another walking down the street
those fellas sitting on benches
these chaps chatting with friends
I am everywhere
tens of me
cluttering up the place
& I could be any of these men
this one those him being around
if I had taken a different path
met other people
stayed longer there
run away sooner with her
cut my hair short
put in that sad side parting
stayed on at school
made black my colour
asked for more
settled for less
& she arrives smiling
what’cha thinking about?
oh nothing I say
just watching the world go by
as we decide on flat whites today