The No-Food Restaurant

by S. K. Kelen

I’m Popeye the Sailor
I pay my respects at the no-food cafe
there’s no meat or vegetable
the noodles have been spirited away
and the rice is second-hand,
cold from the previous customers’ bowls.
A boiled carp appears, it tastes like poison
its miserable lips frozen in a slight smile
I place a cigarette butt between them.




S. K. Kelen's picture

ABOUT THE POET ~
S. K. Kelen is a widely published Australian poet. His most recent books are Goddess of Mercy (Brandl & Schlesinger, 2002), and Earthly Delights (Pandanus Press, 2006)


Last updated July 20, 2011