American Cheese, If You Please

          
American cheese, if you please
   Not Taiwanese or Japanese
Nothing Maltese or Vietnamese
   American cheese, if you please

You say I must try Swiss Cheese
    Lebanese and Nepalese
At Chanukah, ‘Monterey of Maccabees’
    Farvoss?* American cheese, if you please                                             *'What for?' (Yiddish)

But surely you’ll take a bite of Siamese
     Portuguese, Pekinese or Paraguese 
And how can you neglect Senegalese and Congolese
     Not now. If you please, American cheese

Is our diner a narrow-minded provincial  
     Nisht!** ~ she’s old, a Jewish immigrant NYC election official            **No!  Not!  (Yiddish)
Copyright © | Year Posted 2026

Poem

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Kendrick Avatar
September 9, 2026 at 5:16 AM
Ahh!! I am not sure if this is metaphorical or really about cheese (LOL) but I liked it. Some different flavors of cheses are quite nice but cheddar cheese is so nice as a general rule. I have learned there are so many different kinds of cheddar that can make your day. Your style and flow were awesome. Way to go. 👏✍️. Sara K.
Wolf Avatar
September 9, 2026 at 8:24 PM
Really?! ... And I was turning green myself, like yesterday's cheese. lol. ~ Mole Dee
Poet Avatar
September 9, 2026 at 4:57 AM
With a playful rhythm and humorous tone, this poem delights with its witty preference for American cheese, Gershon. It's amusing and clever,
Wolf Avatar
September 9, 2026 at 8:20 PM
'Amusing' - thank you. 'Clever' - thank you again. (Perhaps you forgot 'cheesy.') lol. Thanks, Sotto!
Rodgers Avatar
September 9, 2026 at 4:33 AM
Hello Gershon, Your diner scene feels so instantly alive, like you are sitting across from a classic New York character who knows exactly what she likes and refuses to budge for any fancy import. It is so funny and warm. Blessings, Daniel
Wolf Avatar
September 9, 2026 at 8:16 PM
Well, this lady is a bit of a throwback, being a Yiddish-speaking Jewish immigrant. Most of the immigrants to NYC these days seem to be Muslims from various countries of origin... Thanks for the encouragement, Daniel. Here's to 'Farvoss?' and 'Nisht!' ~ Border Crossings, Gershon
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