Oli whose real name was Olivia

Had popped into town

As she was picking up a book

Little did I know

That she was also going to surprise me

With a book as I had been kind to her

Memories of My Melancholy Whores

Had been written by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

I had read many of his books

It had an interesting cover

Which was at once sepia colourful and erotic

A woman is almost hidden in the shadows

Although her breasts are subtly exposed

She appears to be looking down

It is a very moody photograph

Yet the bleakness is broken

By the invasion of colourful flowers

They should not have been placed there

But the combination works very well

Oli is sitting next to me on the terrace

She has changed from her city clothes

And is wearing a white cotton dress

With pale blue cornflowers ghosted

Into its almost hidden patterns

I only read during afternoons

But my friend is well into her book

The day feels quite perfect

Summer Memories

Winter Dreams