it’s late
the city lights turned black
i don’t remember the city
feeling so empty
i let my thoughts linger
and wonder if they are my allies
i start talking to the only person
i can see
somehow we get to
dostoevski and carl jung
he works in construction
but is well read
i listen
neither ally
nor stranger
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