Costa Lamento

Same old routine, same venue too

We join the queue, I order

Flat white for her with fern motif

Tan crema round the border

For me a capuccino, large

With sifted chocolate powder

Baristas all look younger now

The music slightly louder

We grab our favourite corner seat

Our meal, the usual fare

Two toasties filled with ham and cheese

A Chelsea bun to share

The great machine behind the counter

Clanks and slurps and hisses

And suddenly I recollect

Those first exciting kisses

Brunette has given way to grey

Her voice a little gentler

She takes my hand and thanks me for

The flowers that I sent her

Her smile, so sweet, improved with age

Her wise and loving eyes

Close tight before she takes a sip

Leans back a bit, and sighs

We laugh and talk the years away as if

Time was suspended

Why did I let her slip away

It's not what I intended

But too late now to make amends

However we construe it

We took a fatal turning and

We well and truly blew it