Headspace: A series in which teaching staff and students from the English Department write about a place or space they go to write, read, study or create. [Read all entries.]  [Revisit the “Ongoing” series.] [Revisit the “Interrogative” series.]

Café Je t’aime, Sheung Shui

Calm, blissful nights with fine weather.
Dark, quiet alley in Shek Wu Hui.
Clean, well-lit place in the old quarter.

They have no waiters
but baristas,
shelter-keepers
for their lovely neighbours.

Cats on the walls
Cassette of Lisa
Coffee fragrance
Cosy sofa
Coldness of craft beer

“Je t’aime, mes amis.
Have a taste of Solomon’s Wisdom.
Enjoy the ambience,
Leave the boredom outside.”

At the corner,
the band is ready,
playing songs that remind you
“Forget not our identity.”

Countless calm blissful nights,
in the dark, quiet alley,
in this clean, well-lit place,
The Wisdom of Solomon I taste quietly.

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Gary Lam is a BA graduate in Stylistics and Comparative Literature (Class of 2015). [Read all entries by Gary.]