Lament at Le Petit Paris Cafe, Cape Town
by Ben Oswest
You girls are thin
because you smoke
and drink cappuccino
but don’t drink Coke
if you know what I mean.
You men are broke
because you like
thin girls. You can’t say no
when they’ve hiked
their skirts and spoken
so sweetly - “Mike
(or John or Bill)
have you got a light? Oh,
cheers, oh the bill,
how sweet. Thanks Mike.”
I’m over the hill.
I eat and watch
you young people. I know
your games. I catch
you take your fill.
You light a match.
She leans in close
and eyes the flame. You go
for her tits, or those
crossed thighs. Snatches
she gladly shows.
You laugh and grin
and she demurs - and when Ou
Rose Man comes in
she gets a rose.
- 1997
