Caught between the wine bars full to the brim

Of hoo-rahs and serious laughter

And the fountains where kids scream with delight

Are those who spread themselves on

Sprawled out on dog- tired grass

Cross legged and relaxed heads back smiling

some expressions intense

on low cut crawled walls

others half smiling

Some with cans and a carefully tailored

Rolled up cigarette

I dodge and sway

Trying to avoid

 

the perfectly contented cats

The dozers and the poseurs

Who all soak up their inch of sun

Some with shades, scowls and fading well -worn clothes

Some poached like a raw half beaten eggs

Others coached from birth always to dress up

Never down

In a way that more often says no

Rather than yes

The manicured toes and hand painted nails

The rich red lips and black hair

And those outraged when you neither notice or care

The adorned

The non-affiliated

Those who curse and swear with silent moving lips

And dark disdainful eyes

The man laid out on the wall alone

Disturbed only by the occasional busy bustle of a stranger

The resignation of the guitar accompanied singer

Against the backdrop of squealing trams

As I cross the square

among the sundowners

In their very own land of one more for the road and casually displayed make believe

I take my leave

And make for the train

Thinking is this Hell or Eden

I can’t quite decide