Cafe Terrace at Night, by Dorian Maynard

Café Terrace at Night, by Vincent Van Gogh (Netherlands). 1888.

 Café Terrace at Night

A little café terrace at night tucked away 
in the dark of a narrow city street, bathed
in golden lantern light beneath the awning, 

dismissing the rest of the somnolent world,
might just be the best space for a serendipitous 
meeting—two perfect strangers seduced 

by the blues of the night sky and the hues below.
(Van Gogh would know Hemingway had it right--
there is something about a well-lit place.)  

And should no romance roam in along those 
kindled cobblestones, maybe one could still 
steal something from the other patrons’ 

warm and ambient din… and, after the slow slow 
sipping down of an espresso, would step away
from the rusted-orange of the terrace— 

and all that yellow glow--

           out, out into the indigo evening, 

and on the solitary walk home 
might feel just a little less alone 

            under that   S t a R r y   s T a r R y    sky. 

Dorian Maynard
​
Dorian Maynard lives and teaches in Los Angeles where he tries to get adolescents to appreciate how the written word shapes our world and helps us carve out a window to our place in it.  He writes, in his spare time, fighting for a better view.