After the movie, queuing for parking
Your head on my shoulder, hand in my pocket
Whispering how my smile makes you melt
I lean back into you
“What do you wish for?”
“World peace” I say
Trying to be cool
“And you?”
“Just to be here”
Perfect answer

A balmy Friday night on Huaihai
Past Sony
The night feels continental
Past Starbucks
Holidays in Europe
Stairs down
End a busy week
But no one hurries
To City Shop
Where time is frozen
Yoghurt, bread and papers
Tumbling down Huaihai
A parallel universe
Dreams moving slowly
Under clear blue evening skies
A girl skips forever
Across four lanes
A whistle reports
Lights change
Cars move
She’s gone
Hello, watch, bags

From the smoking cubicles
Down the smoking stairs
Through the smoking streets
Where everything reeks
Curiosity stores lead me home
Past outside sleepers, PJs and mats
The dog’s ran away, he’s not coming back
Through the gate’s smoking guard
The papers he’s read, under and over
A ghost on his screen
And the things he’s seen
Working, shirking, lurking
Past dog shit green
Into a lobby cool and clean
Elevator, lift, take me home
I don’t want to be alone