Dinner Time Poem by Elnathan John

DINNER TIME

Do we sometimes bask in our delusions,
And become tourists in lands that never were?
-Anon.
I am not fooled
By this cool wind
In my face
I know that what I ride
Is no horse

This swing
Takes us
High and low
Forward and backward
Nowhere, fast

It’ll soon be dark
Daddy wants you home
There’s a tall guest
For dinner,
For you

It’s in your eyes-
You’d rather stay
But you are a good girl
You should go home
For dinner

Send my regards
to Uncle Ralph
Tell of us, if you can
and of the swing
I now ride alone

Don’t look back
I have no last request
I won’t ask you
Not to leave me here
You’ve been out too long

You’d best be gone
Dinner is served
I won’t walk with you
Halfway home
And watch you disappear

I won’t stand, teary-eyed
Wishing you could stay
I’ll drown my soul
In the odd creaks
Of my offbeat swing

I’ve no illusions
Of space at the oak table
Besides, I reckon
the exquisite meals
Might upset my common stomach

But please
Don’t think I do not bleed
I hate myself
For getting used to wine
I cannot afford

Be kind to me
Don’t make me say goodbye
I can’t afford memories-
They are too big
For my little heart

So run along my dear
Don’t shed a tear for me
Don’t keep them waiting
I can hear Uncle Ralph calling:
Your dinner is getting cold!