October Thursday

OCTOBER THURSDAY One of those days when the morning Is losing the stuggle to be born, Heavy cloud smothering each ray’s attempt To creep out of the hills, The pale sun disc already too exhausted To glow in the ragged breaks in the cloud; One of those days when the bus is late, When the coffee machine has broken down, And no one is bothered about fixing it. This is not a day to meet anyone socially, Just for staying indoors and doing my job, Saying nothing as I slip down to the café For a take-out large black, no sugar. I still see it now, still smell the coffee. She appeared as if from nowhere, Pushed ahead of me in the queue, Smiling at me to give herself permission. The smile that woke up the day, That woke up the whole month, That woke up my whole life, Startled my dormant heart, And told me to marry her - Fifty years ago come tomorrow.