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More poems by Hugo WilliamsHugo Williams | Print this page.Print | View and Write CommentsComments | Books by Hugo WilliamsBooks by Hugo Williams

Bar Italia

Hugo Williams

How beautiful it would be to wait for you again 
in the usual place, 
not looking at the door, 
keeping a lookout in the long mirror,
knowing that if you are late
it will not be too late,
knowing that all I have to do
is wait a little longer
and you will be pushing through the other customers,
out of breath, apologetic.
Where have you been, for God's sake?
I was starting to worry.

How long did we say we would wait
if one of us was held up?
It's been so long and still no sign of you.
As time goes by, I search other faces in the bar,
rearranging their features
until they are monstrous versions of you,
their heads wobbling from side to side
like heads on sticks.
Your absence inches forward
until it is standing next to me.
Now it has taken a seat I was saving.
Now we are face to face in the long mirror.


Submitted by Jason Clapham

Added: 2 Apr 2003 | Last Read: 7 Jun 2025 7:35 PM | Viewed: 5337 times

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URL: http://plagiarist.com/poetry/8156/ | Viewed on 7 June 2025.
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