Just a Little Restaurant in Trois-Îlets
Black paint scrawls FERMÉ
on a board nailed diagonally across a charred gash
where only days before the sweet smile
of a Creole hostess welcomed diner--bonsoir.
Sinatra’s voice from the speakers
drowned by laughter and chatter.
A waitress lifted spiny lobsters
from a tank by their antenna
while children flocked around her
and squealed with glee--regarder!
A table of eight raised
sweating glasses of rum and fruit
in a toast--joyeux anniversaire!
Your hand reached across our table as
your Caribbean blue eyes met mine—I love you.
Fragrant walls of bougainvillea and frangipani,
opened to those soft Caribbean zephyrs
that fed the conflagration.
Author: Marianne Gambaro
Website | On OMPJ
Photo: René Ranisch on Unsplash
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