[From the
author of “Poems by
Kolki- Absolutely Humane” & “Real Path To 9/11”]
San Ramon, CA,
11/22/1999, Pacific Bell/SBC (Cafeteria)
(Dedicated to my colleagues and
friends at P*B/SBC – Deepak Sarkar, www.kolki.com)
Cash registers
are officially closed –
They are now
totaling day’s transactions
The
cri-cridi-crik sound can be heard from a distance -
After serving
thousands with hearty breakfast
And
multinational customized mouth-watering lunch!
Yes! Lunchtime
is over for the day
In this huge yet
artistic Pacific Bell main cafeteria
Inside the Campus
in San Ramon Valley California!
Upstairs
smaller cafeteria is still serving
For the unfortunate
ones who missed lunch for meeting -
Or attending outstanding
work for the deadlines upcoming
Or to the fortunate
ones enjoying rewarding party time!
Men and women
downstairs
Are busy cleaning
and packaging unsold items!
Loud sound of
moving pots, pans and carts
Making noises
enough to be heard from a distance!
They are
getting ready for tomorrow’s serving
As some
skipped their very lunch untimely -
Too early,
9:30 am, in the morning
Now trying to revive
lost appetite with early dinner
Before rushing
for the evening shift elsewhere!
Swans and
Canadian Geeses enjoying surrounding lake
Making wild sounds
while taking off or landing in groups for rest!
New parents
are guarding their chicks as they graze
While pregnant
ones by glass window feeling more private!
An elderly
lady ensuring salt and pepper in each table
For tomorrow’s
fresh start –
Bade goodnight
to me with a very affectionate smile
And some
wonder in her eyes
About this
very late sole customer
Sitting and
writing alone in the huge cafeteria!
Author: Deepak
Sarkar, 844 Royal Oak Ave, Victoria, BC V8X 3T2, Canada; Tel/Fax: 250-412-2897;
E-mail: kolki@kolki.com;
Poetry & Peace Web Site: www.kolki.com