Young Lovers Poem by Orlando Belo

I like sitting at this particular table in this lively Café
eating cheese toasties and drinking black coffee.
At a nearby table, two lovers are kissing and making up,
but stopped to take a sip from their cooling coffee cup.

They resumed kissing and again decided to disconnect,
the girl opened a fresh packet and lit up a cigarette.
They shared the cigarette and gave each other a loving stare
as they touched and whispered what they alone could hear.

Placing the cigarette in the ash tray they cuddled back together,
fitting like a glove with their arms around each other.
To them they were alone in this busy, noisy, crowded, café,
uninterested in anyone else and what they may think or say.

Several minutes followed of whispering, kissing, smiling,
eye contact seducing and light-hearted laughing
They looked as though they were here for the rest of the day,
I only wished there was something else to take my attention away.

Suddenly her chair flew backwards as she angrily stood up,
rocking the table, which spilt coffee from their cups.
Surprised, he stood up as the ashtray crashed to the floor,
she then slapped his face and shouted, "No more."

He tried to explain what he had said, but she pushed him away.
She didn't want to know what he was trying to say.
He sat calmly sat down, smiled, and told her that he loved her,
she looked into his eyes and silently questioned her anger.

With her hot temper cooling she decided to sit back down.
She asked him a question, which caused him to frown.
As he explained she dragged her chair closer to the young man,
and asked him why he needed to see another woman.

Picking up the fallen ashtray, she listened to what he had to say,
whilst others in the café carried on, as if it was an ordinary day.
Outside the café window it was pouring down with torrential rain.
The couple dragged their chairs closer and began whispering again.

He then smiled at her and lit up another blue tipped cigarette
while she ordered two fresh coffees after a deep intake of breath.
They passed the fag back and forth until only the filter tip remained.
Slowly, they got even closer and kissed again and again.

He held out his hands as they looked into each other's eyes,
with a smile she touched his finger, as though to apologise.
I like sitting at this particular table in this lively café
eating cheese toasties and drinking black coffee.

Watching all kinds of people, who fall out and later make up,
over a few heated words, a kiss or two, and a fresh coffee cup.
I can say that it is by no means unusual to see in this busy place,
a spoken word, a misunderstanding and a slap across the face.