We were both relieved
when the meal came
our small talk had petered out
and lengthy silences rolled
cheerlessly across the space between us.
Food, common ground,
we agreed it tasted good
eating more than we normally do.
Then coffee, strained talk
and uneasy laughter,
strangers sharing a table
and to think that we had been lovers for five years.
Stole a glance at the newspaper
wished I could read it
but that wouldn’t be nice.
You looked at the wall clock
rose and said that you had to go back to work,
I rose too
bid you farewell,
sat down
ordered another coffee
and began reading the news.