Chidago Canyon Petroglyph, Detail
Waffle House
Before the thing of cell phones
& after a stuffed toilet left
to late-night running, we were witnesses
for in medias res as it careened
from a cackling pack of Boilermakers hurling slurs. White-haired Cook
launches a spatula in oiled motion of call & response
then shower of spit, hurled salt & pepper shakers
smeared platters of happy logos Frisbeed across the counter
stink bugs like raisins on steamed windows
moths outside twirling under yellow
red flashing in parking lot
tableau of our thinking too late for escape.
Boilermakers seething in paddy wagon,
ducktails streaked with oleo.
Handcuffed Cook, weary lion in jaundiced light,
aching to erase the world
and pop god
in jail
instead
____________
Rikki Santer
Review by Jared Pearce
The tornado of action and lines here is a fitting form for the scene.