Side Order of Regret
by Odin Roark

Some walk the banks of rivers and shore,
Back alleys and deserted parks,
Seeking,
Or
Escaping.

Such are the questions of eyes pondering
The night people of one’s fantasies;
Those entities wiser perhaps
Than some are willing to enfold as reality.

Alone,
Stars and moonless nights
Engulf everyday tolerance,
Embellishing fear and question
With hunger for the un-illuminated.

The open-all-night neon engulfs.
The lost sidle up to decision’s banquet table.
Cold plates on the left.
Hot on the right.
All white.
All right.

The chef of dreams hovers
“Bet you remember 25 cent beer,
Pearl onions,
Pickles,
And the God-awful olives.

Well,

This ain’t a White Horse Bar,
So enjoy.
You earned it,
Even though
You acknowledge survival
As an unearned trophy.”

That’s how it might go.
Those who traverse Stygian gloom,
Happening upon their midnight-sun smorgasbord diner,
Where alter ego
Finally stops,
Smells the coffee
And prepares to admit,
“Hold that side order of regret.
Having almost everything does just fine.”