In the City Cafe of Tunis

We, pedestrians, who love open range walk in and out for freedom and bread. It is now high time for autumnal change And the city streets are propelling us ahead. Reality is contained and so in it is my life Here just in this street corner of Lafayette I rest in the Cafe and drink a cup of tea The servant seems to be good natured with his smile he comes and goes here and there for nothing more than service. Time is slow and outside the wind is blowing. Moments grow, the lights are white and bright at night. The two girls sitting in front of me must know it is late But for this, as I see it, they do not care at all and wait. They look at each other and laugh more than they speak Why do I then fail to understand what they are weaving? I drink my tea but the taste of it is getting bitter and bitter. They could have been my sisters so that I would have asked them to go home before the storm but of no use now is my meddling. I walk out with tears in my eyes to see that it is so cold inside and outside. Chokri Omri ‘In the Ornaments of the City Cafe’ 2012