Nighthawks

One of my favorite paintings has always been Edward Hopper’s Nighthawks. Art often serves as wonderful inspiration for a writer, so why not choose a picture and write a poem? Or a story!

Light from the diner

slices through the night
like a knife through ham on rye
at Phillie’s.
Strong 10 cent coffee
sits cooling in indestructible mugs,
untouched.
A man at the counter
huddles over the nutty smell
of his roasted blend
pretending not to be
listening
to the couple’s conversation
that wanes with the early morning hours.
She finds the matches
more interesting
than the man with the cigarette.
Its ashes and smoke
cast a fog over their relationship
on display for everyone to see –
except there is no one,
but the white-capped boy
behind the counter,
whose comment shocks the stillness.
"Have you heard?
We’re at war!”

            -Roberta Worthington