Lunch Is Ready Poem by RIC BASTASA

you must have read before

that when a man is made to choose
between lunch
and poetry

he must choose lunch
it is 12: 20 noon

and if you wish
please finish this poem for me

make it say something
about hunger
the pinch in the stomach
the lack of guts
the impatience about life

for the meantime
i'll take what is offered on the table
i still have to chew
another idea that is fed in my mind
another poem
shaped like a fried chicken
scents of lumpia shanghai
images of white rice
exuding some fumes in
the light to the ceiling
clinking sounds of silver spoon and fork
and flowing clear drinking water
in the glass
in a whoosh

and the usual conversations
of sweet nothings
displayed on the table
like a soup
of bird's nest