she used to dance

she tells me

while she casually unloads her car

back in the day

every thursday night

she’s a bit too old for it now

i tell her i don’t really dance

but she could show me some steps

to a song she likes

she turns the car radio on

send the rain is blasting

she looks around

tells me she’s had complaints

from the neighbours before

and it’s late

i look at her

and hope she turns it up even more

i don’t know if i remember

she says

if not

make something up

i wouldn’t know anyway

she gets in front of her car

it looks new and old at the same time

like it’s been around

but kept clean and in shape

she starts with some steps

i join in

not as easy as i thought

i laugh

i try

we sing

send the rain

the band is playing african music

an older spanish lady gets up

starts to clap anywhere but on the beat

she laughs and starts dancing

the young woman

with dreads almost to her knees

joins her

then a couple from the other side of the bar

where are you from

the girl across from me asks

i'm local

what a great band

she says

and gets up

i don't feel like dancing

i don't want to like the band

but i do

the owner grabs my hand

don‘t sit

i get up and notice a weird plastic fish in the corner

the band finishes this one song

after what must have been twenty minutes

and i

i almost started to dance

she walks away naked

she does not look back

the sparrows start their wake up call

i never check the clock

the summer heat still in the room

come back to bed i say

she walks away naked

she never looked back

it’s the local meeting spot

coffee, beer and gambling place all at once

i’ve been here before

once or twice

coffee is good

and cheap

i get a croissant

leo an older italian man

fills the place

with conversation

laughter

and life

something about the mafia

lost in the italian

i don’t ask

he introduces me to laura

she got some good money

from her last divorce

and she could use company

he tells me

she gets quiet

they offer me

some italian cheese

it’s salty

and bitter

i like it

he’s drinking a lager

while i have a coffee

we both probably

can’t tell the time

come back later

he says

for a nice bottle of wine

street parade

people come to the city

to dance and rave

i’m trying to make my way through

i forgot

again

carrying my guitar

and a heavy bag

just finished playing a wedding

for a couple

who didn’t look that in love

a girl in the corner

shoulders shaking

mascara down her cheeks

i keep walking

a woman walks towards me

short white skirt

she looks at me

lifts it

flashes me

i take a look

she smiles

i keep walking

three dudes with three guitars

sitting on a quiet street

playing a song about love

grief

and loss

a woman sits next to them

tries to kiss

the least Irish looking of them

he rejects her

i keep walking

I smoke a cigarette

on the platform

and wait for the train

to the south