Deborah Tyler Bennett
English Martini
Day for night, this illumined fish,
neon cross-hatches familiar drinkers.
Ten in the morning, blokes
from Patrick Hamilton down lager. One, bespoke
vowels and shabby mac, says it’s his second,
but a couple of vodkas saw him OK
before venturing out.
His friend tells how (his shout)
luckily, he hasn’t stopped since last weekend
She’s dressed for evening.
Ten in the morning.
Black lace, stilettos,
face taut, tucked
Chats up the Barman, eyelids shut
Twenty past, showers force families indoors.
Her voice downpours
above stirred Martini.
Words quick-drying as rain kissed bar floors.
poetrymagazines' note: Some of the poet's work later appeared in the volume Pavilion (Middlesbrough: Smokestack, 2010)
Page(s) 31
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