notes from a vegan cafe (6/4/25)

next table
chattering
group of three
English tones
service with a smile
diligence
empty chairs
soon fill up
in through the in door
and out through
the in door
coffee machine
coffee machine
soundtrack for a scone
vegan
it’s the season
to be vegan
if you really want
busy bods
elements
in fine glass bulbs
laptop man
plugged in
oblivious
to all around
focused on
an English breakfast
and a shiny screen
I just can’t write
fast enough
fast enough
to keep up
people in
people out
shake them all about
coffee machine
coffee machine
more coffee please
homemade cakes
vegan
it’s the season
to be vegan
toilet
one for all
and all for one
but maybe not
all at once
cactus
maple syrup
books filled with recipes
cutlery
user-friendly
pepper grinder
salt pot
coffee machine
coffee machine
more coffee please
service with a
napkin
so many phones
mobile phones
not me
never me
invisible
as you can’t see
only see
what you expect
green tiles
lunch rush
changing hands
like trains at stations
serving hatch
hatching food
order by the twos
and threes
people in
people out
coffee machine
coffee machine
it’s the season
to be vegan
more coffee please
sticky fingers
coat hooks
just one hanging
all alone.

© 2025 robert greig

(somewhere there’s a rhythm
that’s well and truly hidden… )