Most Read... John McAuliffeBill Manhire in Conversation with John McAuliffe
(PN Review 259)
Patricia CraigVal Warner: A Reminiscence
(PN Review 259)
Eavan BolandA Lyric Voice at Bay
(PN Review 121)
Joshua WeinerAn Exchange with Daniel Tiffany/Fall 2020
(PN Review 259)
Vahni CapildeoOn Judging Prizes, & Reading More than Six Really Good Books
(PN Review 237)
Christopher MiddletonNotes on a Viking Prow
(PN Review 10)
Next Issue Kirsty Gunn re-arranges the world John McAuliffe reads Seamus Heaney's letters and translations Chris Price's 'Songs of Allegiance' David Herman on Aharon Appelfeld Victoria Moul on Christopher Childers compendious Greek and Latin Lyric Book Philip Terry again answers the question, 'What is Poetry'
Poems Articles Interviews Reports Reviews Contributors
Reader Survey
PN Review Substack

This poem is taken from PN Review 204, Volume 38 Number 4, March - April 2012.

Six Poems Hugo Williams
Bar Italia

I linger indoors, remembering us
braving the weather
on the other side of the glass.
I was standing at the bar when you arrived
and you signed for me to come outside
because you wanted to smoke.
We huddled together,
drinking coffee and talking,
so near I can almost touch us.

How long were we sitting there,
shivering and smoking like that?
And what were we talking about
so eagerly and anxiously
while our cigarettes went out?
We didn't mind having to light them
...


Searching, please wait... animated waiting image