Poetry 7 - Studying the Clientele (1978)

 

STUDYING THE CLIENTELE

(Written by Warren Maloney - March 1978)

 

The café is open; the first stragglers, tiredly blaze

Walk in with an air: The sameness of this – our present schedule.

 

The weekend was fun – Yes, really a maze.

It was fabulous – rather dull – or perhaps cool,

Say some of the crowd.

 

Now, this is middle-week though: and what a bore,

Swotting – some frantically, others stolidly – but more

And more concentrating – for the end of the term,

I must win – or go around the bend –

Say some of the crowd.

 

An hour or two later – the earnest types pass by,

Rather nice and polite – their minds far away,

The girls rather sweet: the boys so, so hungry,

Relaxation or meditation: one must keep things at bey –

Say more of the crowd.

 

Some bustlers and hustlers mingle with the meek,

The near natural girl, with the modern outlook – her hair neat and fashioned,

And the really nice kid, with his hand in his pocket: what does he seek –

Enough change for to eat: the budget is rationed,

Say another part of the crowd.

 

The next young man, a bit of a smarty – a sort of a slinger,

And his partner for tea – she is unsure whether to laugh or to ignore,

His brashness: will it go or stay with this wanker –

Who knows – possibly not: but at-the-moment he’s a bit of a bore,

Not for the smart crowd.

 

Smart sophistication, unsure withal – serious concentration,

So sweet – and the bright and lively portion,

With just a few of the mediocre: a mere handful –

For this crowd.