Longing for Strangers
Title
Longing for Strangers
Creator
Jennifer K., of East Deering, Portland, Maine
Date
April 3, 2020
2020-04-03
Subject
COVID-19 Pandemic, 2020-
Rights
By submitting content, the creator of this item has granted Portland Public Library permission to disseminate, preserve, and use that content in connection with its educational and research mission, including promotional purposes, in all media in perpetuity. The creator of this item retains ownership of and copyright in the material that has been shared in this particular project & collection.
Language
English
Text
The exquisite decadence
Of sitting at a table
Guessing which date number
The young couple across the room is on
The clank of a dropped fork
The din of twenty conversations
The bracing aroma
Of your favorite coffee shop
The artsy barista and
That lady whose life story
Seemed fascinating based on
Her glasses and the way she held herself
As she read her book
The movies, all buttery popcorn
Collective laughter
Sticky fingers
Smiles and knowing looks as
Families exit and
Children become the heroines and heros
And the annoying person
Who stands in front of the one item
Left on the grocery list
Taking an infinity to decide
Between spinach and arugula
I miss you, too.
Of sitting at a table
Guessing which date number
The young couple across the room is on
The clank of a dropped fork
The din of twenty conversations
The bracing aroma
Of your favorite coffee shop
The artsy barista and
That lady whose life story
Seemed fascinating based on
Her glasses and the way she held herself
As she read her book
The movies, all buttery popcorn
Collective laughter
Sticky fingers
Smiles and knowing looks as
Families exit and
Children become the heroines and heros
And the annoying person
Who stands in front of the one item
Left on the grocery list
Taking an infinity to decide
Between spinach and arugula
I miss you, too.
Original Format
Poetry
Collection
Citation
Jennifer K., of East Deering, Portland, Maine , “Longing for Strangers,” Portland Contemporary Archives: Portland Public Library, accessed April 24, 2024, https://portlandlibrary.omeka.net/items/show/17.