By Carolyn Pinet
Seated outside the cafe,
I could try a crossword -
or a New Year poem -
or I could just sit here and cogitate
while Lucy the Beagle trawls for crumbs,
my fingers curl due to the nip in the air,
and a young guy, in a hurry, enters the cafe,
gives me a smile and nod and says, "hello."
Then another guy appears with a huge labradoodle
he ties up near me and leaves him anxiously waiting -
I try to reassure the dog with a few words
his master will come back and get him -
which, shortly, he actually does.
In fact, I'm the only one sitting here outside
this first day of January.
I almost didn't make it but then said to myself,
"Why not?"
Life is short, I'm pushing my eighth decade,
and my iffy car should just make it there."
The cafe closes at 2 pm and it's now 1:48,
yes, life is even shorter than I thought.
From a small basket inside the cafe I select
an intense square of Ghirardelli chocolate,
and throw a small piece to an inquisitive crow,
and I discover birds also adore dark and sweet.
It's now I take my first, irresistible bite.
Despite all, I surmise, I am blessed:
what could be better than this
brilliant moment
even as the clock ticks down to zero
and the crow flies off calling to me?
Happy New Year from Carolyn Pinet!
Cafe M, 2024