Five Minutes More

by William Jackson on 2005-03-29

Write a poem on a napkin.
Let the emotion dodge the grease and condiments
As it hastily pours out between sips of lemonade
And bouts of hope and fear.

Taste like love? or onion rings?
Iʼm not sure if these tears are fromThis hot sauce, or because she didnʼt come.Iʼll wait five minutes more. Now five minutes more.

Closing time. Busboys clear the tables,
Take my cup, emptied a half-dozen times.
Can you refill my heart?
I guess sheʼll never smell this rose, or wear this ring.