Lost

They were returning

to their spaces at tables

left only ten minutes ago,

he from the cloakroom to the left,

she from the cloakroom to the right.

They paused together at the open door

and saw him leaning back,

a half smile on his face

slightly bemused

fascinated

just a little fascinated.

She was leaning forward,

elbows on table,

hands gesturing

to help her explain

the complexity

of the issue.

She sat back.

He asked her something

they couldn’t hear

but they saw it all,

saw her vigorous nods

and more explanation. 

Saw her stand briefly 

to demonstrate her meaning 

then sat back down again.

They saw it all.

He was nodding now

understanding 

then suddenly

he leaned 

forward to take her hands,

her clenched hands folded in his 

as he smiles

smiles and speaks.

They still can’t hear,

only see as they move 

to retake their spaces

but think they could be lost.

They looked up, 

surprised 

to see them.

In ten minutes they’d been forgotten

and they knew they were lost.

https://dsmag.in/the-magazine-pages/poems/