I've had this meal

Anthony's Diner

Yes, to the fresh
blueberry cobbler
even though I'm not
hungry and it will
double my bill,
because I'm on the verge
of tears and can't finish
my egg salad sandwich,
because this waitress
who never smiles,
whose eyes are hard
from seeing,
has somehow noticed
my sadness
and when she offers the cobbler
there is that other thing in it—
she and I, part of that small
black tepee of crows
I saw on the road this morning,
all business, sharing this beautiful violent day.

— Diane Swan
from the 2012 Women Artists Datebook

Comments

[Molly Spencer]

Love this! New to me! (the poem, not the experience -- I've had that meal, too). Thanks for this.

[Drew]

Hi Molly!
Isn't it a great poem? Feel like I am right there. I'm sorry to say I couldn't find more info on the poet, Diane Swan. I see, via Amazon, she published a chapbook in the 1990s, but I haven't read it and don't know if this poem is included in it.