Lunching alone today, it occurs to me
I’ll never again run into Patsy at the Club.
A little later, as my mind serves up images of her
sitting at a table, on her own or with friends,
or approaching across the space to say hello to me
(sometimes accompanied by Sarah, who is still
very much alive, being such a lot younger)
I understand that I was wrong. I’ll always
be seeing Patsy, whenever I come to the Club.
I wrote this on my phone while still sitting there. Then, as I left, I ran into Sarah just coming in. We hugged and commiserated. I thought of including this sad-sweet coincidence in the poem, but it was already written and felt complete as it is.
Shared in NaPoWriMo 2025, Day Ten. (Off prompt. Written before the prompt was posted – though it does naturally have some of the subtle sound effects we were asked for. )
Also sharing at dVerse Open LinkNight for 19 June 2025.
Accepted for publication in Krisis: Poetry at the Crossroads, 2026 anthology from dVerse.