2004/vegetarian

Thanksgiving.
I am a vegetarian
and more unpopular
than usual.
I used to host
all the holidays,
and other dinners,
picnics and cook-outs
at the beach.
It’s hard to say
what happened,
(as it always is).
First, there was
the issue of reciprocity.
I wanted to be
invited back,
for something I
thought – if not
dinner tea.
Anything.
Like a poet
I knew
who vowed
to stop giving
readings without
pay,
and never read
again.
Everything got
harder,
no place to park
at the beach,
too far to drive.
people came,
ate.
And didn’t really
talk to me.
I began to wonder
if I were having
fun.
I know I’m not
now.

11/25/04