The Innisfree Poetry Journal www.innisfreepoetry.org by Bonnie Maurer IN ROHALL'S DINER after a painting by Red Rohall Silver stools line up along the counter like chorus dancers about to spin. Enter Betty and Jules to take them for a twirl on seats red as sweet- heart candy. Jack the soda jerk, swipes his towel at their elbows propped, hands hooked, smiles and takes his pen, "What'll you have America in 1941? Skyscraper Sundae, Adam and Eve on a Raft, Pig Between Two Sheets, "V" for victory at all costs, innocence fizzing in the glass?" "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" floods the juke. The walls blaze yellow as the hot summer day. No one they know has gone to war. Betty has not yet delivered their son while Jules learns to drop bombs. Two straws in a nickel Coke. Jack waves so long. Outside the diner their Buick grins—all its chrome teeth shining. Copyright 2006-2012 by Cook Communication |