St Paul’s Café

by John Stocks

And so you visit the places where
Your love still resonates.
You imagine the air still charged
With the impulse of your love,
The last bittersweet kiss,
The transient bliss.

And so you visit the places where
You sketch his face in situ,
Each stroke now an invocation
Against all cold logic.
You hope they play the song.
The door swings open, and he walks in,
But you must move on.

And so you watch a dull moon break camp
And think, ‘I’ll rise again’,
Kathryn Williams softly crooning.
Only the song remains,
Your exalted despair
A unique but universal cry
Of lovers everywhere.