The girl in the cafe
is pretty
and makes my girlfriend
hold my hand. I wonder
if she somehow knows
that I think
the girl in the cafe
is pretty
even though
everyone is pretty
I guess
when they’re making you
coffee.
she’d be pretty without that
but maybe
not so pretty
and my girlfriends hand
is insistent
even though we’re not walking anywhere
or hill climbing
so there’s no need
for her
to hold on.
it’s not like
I’m not going to propose,
just maybe tip a little better.
she’s very pretty and
my girlfriend is too. though
my girlfriend
isn’t as tall
or as skinny. but really
these aren’t even thoughts
I’m having;
they’re my girlfriend’s thoughts –
I know
she’s pretty too
otherwise I wouldn’t be with her,
but she feels insecure
because
she’s not tall
and she didn’t make me coffee this morning.
I don’t care
because she’s done other things,
I’ve known her a while
and I like her;
she doesn’t need to be as pretty
as this girl making the coffee.
she just needs to be her
and if she doesn’t know that by now
I don’t know what to do.
I’ve tried my best;
told her she’s pretty,
told her she’s clever,
told her
there’s no-one I’d rather be with,
but she’s very insecure
my girlfriend.
she’s worried this girl
who’s making the coffee
is just my type
(she is
but I’d feel a dick if I said it)
so what can I do?
I just want some coffee
I get the coffee
tip
don’t do anything else
and we go back outside
holding hands.
• • •
DS Maolalai is a poet from Ireland who has been writing and publishing poetry for almost 10 years. His first collection, Love is Breaking Plates in the Garden, was published in 2016 by the Encircle Press, and he has a second collection forthcoming from Turas Press in 2019. He has been nominated for Best of the Web and twice for the Pushcart Prize.