He read the Mail

He entered like he was expected
The face of a Cypriot Greek
Greying, chiseled to English sag
And bulldog cheeks.
He read the Mail.

He didn't want the cabbage
And mocked in voice
"So poor all I can afford is
Cabbage."
He read the Mail.

"And carrots and peas
And tea and gravy
The gravy not in the tea"
Like the waitress would think
That was funny
Like his wife thought
That was funny.
His wife wasn't there
He sat hunched in a chair
And read the Mail