Dinner Guests
--
I am glad you could join me
for a meeting on such short notice.
You remind me of
a man I met quite recently.
-
I am the Lord of the manor
and I had the pleasure
of holding a banquet last night.
A marine on leave
from his tour in Iraq
was my honored guest.
He enjoyed the hors d'oeuvres
as he admired my collection
of weapons from revolutions.
I excused my lack of eating,
for I now prefer
American food
over my native French.
-
When I felt the time had come,
the main course began.
I must admit
I underestimated
the vitality of the meal
as it struggled for life.
I'm afraid my guest
didn't enjoy the experience--
I'm sure it must have been
the teeth in the neck and
its sudden exsanguination.
-
I'm almost glad
I forgot to send
the other invitations.
My friends and
the rest of the platoon
would have destroyed more
than the one priceless vase
that I lost in the struggle.
-
But come!
Let us not dwell on the past.
It is late,
and I am hungry.
Won't you join me for dinner?