Nuffield Street

[alfredo]

A chill breeze
tumbles leaves
along the scratchy path
past the table where we sit
heads down, collars up,
hands touch, legs beside,
warmth alongside;
coffee stains
each mouth

but under the distant veranda
two stand motionless
lips and breath mingle
the hands of the clock pause
time stands still

they draw apart
and leaves drift down
around the heads that wear smiles
around their eyes

smiles that weren’t there
before

and beyond
trees with red and gold
among the green
line each side
of Nuffield Street

(and the lady who held time
between her lips
is sadly missed)