Sounds of a busy café morning.
Came this way just to escape.
A table in the corner.
Coffee, and something
light for breakfast.
Eyes down on your phone,
but they take in everything.
Watching the room,
to see if anyone
is watching you.
So painstakingly prepared,
the perfect picture
of beauty.
Disheveled, like you just
rolled out of bed
and came on down.
You clear eyes
and light make-up
speak your lie for you,
but only
to anyone
really looking.
This place has changed a lot
since you were young.
Now busy business rush,
instead of stylish artists.
All things change in time,
even you,
with your new-found Nihilism.
Filed down
to sharp points,
all of your opinions.
Judgement slams its gavel down
as you take in the crowd
and the queue at the counter.
This neighborhood has come
a long way.
The professionals
and not-quite-middle-aged millennials
moved in,
gentrifying the area.
You only glare for a second,
but the distain
is plain upon your face.
The young artists,
thin Bohemian gods and goddesses
of your past
have all moved on.
So have you,
in your own way.
You never used to feel
so much distain
for a world that did
the one thing it does best.
It changed.
DJR – 2023
