Stella's Cafe

Billings, 21 March 2011

At Stella's the Thank-You waitress

brings your forgotten cole slaw

across thread-bare flooring underlain

by wickedly undersized floor joists

Stella's is evangelical half-way house

where 40 year-old music drifts across

from yesterday like the scent

of the Laurel refinery

It's not that anyone digs The

Wichita Lineman or Cher droning on

about Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves

rather it's because any audible sound

aged less than 40 and loose change

might shake loose common sense

from the Thank-You waitress who

is relieved to be serving you rather

than being jaw-slapped by her

godforsaken soul mate