“Frog” © Tybee Maitri

 

Deserted Café

I arrived late, once again
You had the right to be riled
You looked at me and smoked
Those blue eyes seemed so wild.

The café was haunted by
Runaways from the rain
Drowning in the jangle,
I ghosted your real pain.

You were my lovesome secret
Which this place kept so well
My secrets and all dreams
Burned in your chaotic hell.

I wish I didn’t hide what
You’d want me to shout aloud,
The shared love between two men,
Being open and proud.

Your voice melted with the noise
And your face in the dim light.
What if love could fill the gaps
We would talk until midnight.

I could not stop your rage
Kurt’s chant in the background did
We fell into muteness
The set was still livid.

Everything had gotten cold
You didn’t give me a choice
Lightly you left us behind;
Me, Cobain, and all the noise.

Where in the world, in which café
Are you wandering these days?
Mind here, Nirvana still plays
Don’t get lost in endless ways.

 

Sarah Samarbaf is a poet, with a background in performing arts. They, as Luca Parondi, live on bread and movies, and also enjoy writing and reading.

Tybee Maitri is an artist living, healing, and creating in Western North Carolina with their cat Muchini. They studied Studio Art at Simmons University and love learning.