By the harbour, a couple read silently
as families discuss plans for their first day.
This is where everyone goes in the morning.
We sip coffee and bottled water, interrupted
every three minutes by aeroplanes
—you know the tourists by the way they look up.
Men in boats skim by, searching
for sardines, mackerel, sea bream
to feed the tourists in the restaurants.
An old man stops to chat to the couple.
He jokes, talks about the news, some scandal
in the city, so much has happened since he saw them last.
The lady laughs, but her husband glances
at the news affecting his country.
Life is simple here. We pay our bill,
and walk into the town.
as families discuss plans for their first day.
This is where everyone goes in the morning.
We sip coffee and bottled water, interrupted
every three minutes by aeroplanes
—you know the tourists by the way they look up.
Men in boats skim by, searching
for sardines, mackerel, sea bream
to feed the tourists in the restaurants.
An old man stops to chat to the couple.
He jokes, talks about the news, some scandal
in the city, so much has happened since he saw them last.
The lady laughs, but her husband glances
at the news affecting his country.
Life is simple here. We pay our bill,
and walk into the town.