by Alison M Lowther
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28 June 2019
In a café sit a young couple opposite each other at a table for two, laptops open back to back. Alongside them at the next table sit an older couple, both immersed in reading their newspapers. One cannot help but note the sharp contrast which also lends itself to a perverse synchronicity. On their other side sit three friends, chatting, drinking coffee, smiling and pretending to look interested, all the while contemplating what to say next. Ego talk. Mindless talk. Tick Tock. Tick Talk! Meanwhile I sit, by the window. Alone. I watch. Alone. The watcher at the window. A casual observer of the lives of those who pass me by but do not see. Blinded to the truth, they stroll down the shop lined road. Shopping and stopping. Stopping to look in well dressed windows at objects which please their eyes - and their Egos beg. But their wallet says ‘no’. The man in the suit with the sternest of look says no. My coffee arrives. I take a sip, warm, black and strong. Like the waiter who brings it to my table, tall dark and strong. Young woman sitting opposite me writes in a large notebook. And her inspiration inspires me to do the same. Her pen flows quickly from page to page. What does she write? Does she write of me as I write of her? Maybe. Maybe not. Mirrors. We write, reflecting, observing, being inspired and inspiring at the same time. She me, me she. Then comes a pause. A short conversation in relation to sunshine absent of warmth, a bright star that shines upon this land we walk. We talk briefly before returning respectively to our writings. Meanwhile, the young couple are still on their laptops, drinking coffee, while mine cools. The older couple are still immersed in their newspapers, mindlessly absorbing the lies and falsehoods of our world, ruled by those who will only permit their chosen ‘news’ to reach our sorry pathetic eyes and ears! She turns to a page and reaches into her handbag for a pen – ah a crossword! Another distraction. But wait – look what you all miss. Look out the bloody window. There is a world out there. A screwed up, fucked up world where people pass by, shopping for stuff! Stuff they don’t really need, in order to impress people they don’t really like. And here I sit, writing, watching, waiting............................................... Alison M Lowther. 14th April 2016