Monsieur Gabardine


I borrow my neighbours car
one of those indifferent Peugeots
that advertising tries to tell us
is zippy in the city,
it is not
but I still manage to park
tail gate sticking out.

The restaurant has blue tablecloths
with matching dark blue napkins
and I'm late of course, I always am
but we kiss nonetheless
enquiring of each others news
while ordering but no booze
I have to drive
and the neighbour wants her car
Returned, I think in one piece.

So the city mouse and the
country mouse sit
amidst a sea of blue.
I metaphorically pull
the straw from my hair
and we share
a Plat du Jour.

There is a man in a gabardine suit
not something often seen
I find my attention, riveted
then hastily look away.
I think of privet hedges
as I munch on
overdressed salad.

City mouse tells me of exhibitions;
I think that gabardine
is an exhibition in itself.
The rest room is an adventure
I put a euro in the tray.

We kiss air, share the cost
Monsieur Gabardine
comes across, leers
he has lettuce caught
between his teeth.

I reach the car,
tear the ticket
off the windshield,
get in
and crank the gears.
I drive through a puddle
glance in the rear view mirror
as Monsieur Gabardine
waves a hand.
An unfortunately dressed man
but friendly, none the less.




Poetry by Elle The PoetBay support member heart!
Read 648 times
Written on 2014-03-12 at 20:16

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Lawrence Beck The PoetBay support member heart!
This is excellent, Elle.
2014-03-15


F.i.in.e Moods The PoetBay support member heart!
This is wonderful :) How alive you make it all for the reader with your rich descriptions. Such a joy, always is to read you.
2014-03-13



What an enjoyable poem, as you take us along on this amazing adventure to a restaurant with blue tablecloth and napkins and see you gazing at Monsieur Gabardine with increasing interest.
How different the might have ended if it hadn't been for that piece of lettuce! Let that be a lesson to all of us. ;) I've heard my parents talk about gabardine suits, yet I don't think I would recognize one. It sounds very elegant and slightly old fashioned.
I love the touch of the un-zippy Peugeot.
2014-03-13


Chaucer Whethers The PoetBay support member heart!
You never said, did the neighbor get the Peugeot back in one piece? The poem implies it was returned intact, yet the question remains if you actually abstained from imbibing. ;-)
2014-03-12



I love this:)
It's a moment but an intriguing one with character and characters...even your tablecloths and napkins add something fine to the whole. You write with a cheeky, chirpy warmth and something much deeper.You invite your reader to become more than a spectator... and so your reader feels as tho' they are an intrinsic part of it all...Now that is a gift and that I love!:0
2014-03-12