Love at First Flight
by Elizabeth Challinor
The train back from the beaches of Cascais
Bursting at the seams
With happy dreams
Coated in bodies
Tumbling out onto the platform
At Cais de Sodré
Effervescent adolescents
Slow couples
Families on alert
Looking out for each other
Where's your brother?
All swarming towards the metro
On a hot Sunday evening
The solitary male
Weaves his way through the crowd
Casting metaphysical glances
At damsels who are clearly not in distress
There is no need for heroes
Or time for pity in the city
