Home

Saturday morning

by Jim Benz


breakfast at Elsie's -
a whole neighborhood
in three shrinking rooms


drawn on the face
of our elderly waitress
an imprint of scowls


long wait for coffee -
could this cup
be any more empty?


a tasty menu -
beneath the side order toast
jelly stains


salt, pepper
a bottle of ketchup
what more could you want?


even in the kitchen
people go about their lives
unnoticed


your eggs
not so runny
as my eggs


reading the paper
words spill from the newsprint
to my tongue


O busboy
didn't you realize
I would finish my toast?

02/19/2008

Posted on 02/19/2008
Copyright © 2026 Jim Benz

Member Comments on this Poem
Posted by Kathleen Wilson on 02/19/08 at 09:26 AM

Ah the patient impatience of these... they have they feel of being very old and very new. So of our time and yet ageless. One recognizes these little incidents with a wry smile. And it's as if the way to get through this Saturday morning breakfast--a stack of napkin haiku!

Posted by Laurie Blum on 02/19/08 at 01:11 PM

I have been to the Chicago version of this place...although it was named Jeans.

Posted by Jeffrey Parren on 02/19/08 at 02:04 PM

But isn't the toast always last? I did smile at the end of this very vivid piece. Well done. ~JPP

Posted by Paganini Jones on 02/19/08 at 10:22 PM

I reckon I've been there too. They had a red checked plastic 'table cloth' too. By jelly are you meaning jello or conserve? Doesn't matter. Chances are it's a bit indeterminate on the menu too :) A pleaseing write.

Posted by Paul Lastovica on 02/21/08 at 12:22 AM

life is in the subtle details. the salt, pepper, and ketchup - and let us not forget, the mustard.

Posted by Wendy Sparling on 02/23/08 at 06:10 PM

This is so realistic, I swore I was sitting next to you, Jim. Thanks for the read.

Return to the Previous Page
 

pathetic.org Version 7.3.2 May 2004 Terms and Conditions of Use 0 member(s) and 2 visitor(s) online
All works Copyright © 2026 their respective authors. Page Generated In 0 Second(s)