A Very Fine Line - the Restaurant

I just walked past the restaurant A terrific place I used to go Early in the evening hours Of a chilly and recent past night The fullness of the moon cast a memory Reminders of my having traveled to these places so often beneath its comfortable glow. Places like this I used to dine In what seems like so many moons ago Could it have really just have been Only seemingly late last year? And then I realized I was outside a window On the outside looking in I am on the outside looking in Of a place where I might or could have been Tonight or any other evening And I had been here oh so recently Only a very short year ago. Today the price of entry to this place Is way beyond my meager means. I recollected that being seen here Had been so important to me Now it is the last thought I hold dear. I saw the fancy tables of where I used to dine With only the finest crystal That held the finest wines. I saw romantic candles Flickering and burning bright I saw tables surrounded with beaming faces Flushed and filled with anticipatory delight Anticipation of the wondrous delicacies They would all soon have and behold. I saw the sommelier pouring wine Bottles and endless bottles Of all the nectars considered to be in vogue Every one of their prices Deemed them to taste like liquid gold. All drinks designed to compliment The amazing and stylish cuisines Posh dinners were arriving quickly Looking as though from magazines Arranged and prepared with minute details Nothing ever missing, nothing out of place Happiness was everywhere. Joy radiated from every face. And as the November wind Begins to blow I turned my head to go To walk toward my empty street My scarf wrapped tightly against the night. Striding ever more quickly Trying to beat the wind and cold I had some thoughts and revelations About that what I had just seen. About those who have never been waited upon Never in their whole lives And about those who dine within those walls Whose thoughts have never even considered That they could end up on the outside looking in. I who now know for certain That it is such a very thin line Between being poor and living fine. And now I have to wonder If being there had been some sort of sin And now that is now the reason I am on the outside On the outside looking in To The Restaurant. (November 15, 2010 Wausau, Wisconsin) (c) Copyright 2010 by Christine A Kysely, All Rights Reserved