Hopper's Automat Expressed Poetically and Abstract

Inspired by the painting Automat by Edward Hopper in 1927. The painting shows a lone woman sat at automated restaurant table. Viewing the painting will enhance the poem. Centre stage yet unseen, star still observable when no longer there Air stands still Urban anonymity heightened Toils of the day weigh heavy Obfuscation of scene with light and shade Mechanical servery de-personalises Attempts to leave stalled by self only Thoughts drift but don't settle The in-between time Soul searcher sits solemnly Soft focus, lost time A lonely lady at the automat The hiding lights obscuring Outside and inner thoughts Do I exist without shadow Am I anything without light He talks of my decadent glow Should I step out into the night Frozen with knowledge and foresight No trust in words he does bestow No doubt of love he does incite Do I exist without shadow I risk everything if I go To stay misery I invite But to live life on a plateau Am I anything without light Need this thinking time in twilight My heart to dictate where I go Decision is not black or white He talks of my decadent glow Without him life will be hollow I become in his line of sight With love my heart does overflow Should I step out into the night The ending, just I, cannot write Cannot know about tomorrow Commence ricochet of delight Relinquish to the undertow Do I exist How can loneliness dwell here Is it trapped in each compartment Insert a nickel and release the desolation Ingredients wise cherry pie Should counter it adequately But it's done nothing for me I also know the answer isn't in my coffee cup But still I sit Hopeful that something will change But there is no air coming through Nothing to change the will of my melancholy It's like I'm half in and half out No decisions made Except for cherry pie This lull is tangible I feel I've projected it Or it's projected me With light after light Hiding the way Compartments invisibly replenished 'Just a nickel to enjoy' I have a purse full of nickels That's the joke Pretty soon the bell will ring And I'll look up Destiny awaits me Somewhere Whilst I wait here Contemplating cold coffee 3rd Place - Brian Strand Contest