Costa Lamento
Same old routine, same venue too
We join the queue, I order
Flat white for her with fern motif
Tan crema round the border
For me a capuccino, large
With sifted chocolate powder
Baristas all look younger now
The music slightly louder
We grab our favourite corner seat
Our meal, the usual fare
Two toasties filled with ham and cheese
A Chelsea bun to share
The great machine behind the counter
Clanks and slurps and hisses
And suddenly I recollect
Those first exciting kisses
Brunette has given way to grey
Her voice a little gentler
She takes my hand and thanks me for
The flowers that I sent her
Her smile, so sweet, improved with age
Her wise and loving eyes
Close tight before she takes a sip
Leans back a bit, and sighs
We laugh and talk the years away as if
Time was suspended
Why did I let her slip away
It's not what I intended
But too late now to make amends
However we construe it
We took a fatal turning and
We well and truly blew it
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