Following The Scent Poem by Charles Chaim Wax

When I entered Meng’s
I sat with John Hartnett, a convicted felon,
and Lotte Light, an aged courtesan,
both only with a cup of tea between them
so I called out to Huey, “Breakfast Special”
wordless while both devoured
the steaming food until each plate gleamed.
Then Hartnett began his prison stories.
Well, the man had few other memories
spending 48 of his 68 years
in a Texas prison.
“You never speak to anyone before breakfast
cause every guy in the joint leaves at night
and drifts to a different place
but the nightmare returns at first light
and they know for sure they’re back
and hungry
so you don’t ever talk before breakfast,
but afterwards you can mumble
nobody minds.”
“Dessert? ” I asked
but really didn’t have to
because I already knew the answer.
Lotte said, “Blueberry pie,
if possible.”
Strangely, Hartnett silent
staring
perhaps traveling
even though
now free
at last.