Poetry Magazines - The best collection of poetry magazines online - Simon Armitage

I’m waiting in the sunshine
Soon I will get food
Today I’m feeling full of hope
I’m in a peaceful mood
Hope the time will go past quick
The waiting is the worst
I must drink; I’m feeling sick
I need to drench my thirst
I can already taste it
The meal they do provide
I hope I get my favourite seat
It’s on the sunny side
Not many have arrived yet
It’s far too early still
I feel so starved and hungry
And starving makes you ill
Let me check what time it is
It nearly is eleven
I had an early morning start
Waking up at seven
The Curry’s Vegetarian
Now time has come to eat
Rice with vegetables and fruit
As they don’t cook with meat
I get myself a cup of juice
And a cup of coffee
Shame I cannot get some wine
Or a chocolate toffee
When I get up to get some more
There’s people coming now
They all carry food on trays
All I can say is ‘WOW!’
They do the preparation
And then they will go round
People talking to each other
Where there was no sound
Now they put up a photograph
It’s large and framed in gold
It shows a kind man waving
Not looking very old
His robes are white
The altar is in orange
A scent of incense in the air
I’m waiting on my bench
Now they plug in a speaker
Arrange a microphone
Some start merry laughter
Others start to moan
They put another picture
On the big altar
And on the tables a white cloth
I smell the food from far
The picture on the left onside
It was of Shirdi Baba
He was suntanned in blue cloth
As pretty as from Prada
A lady joined my table
I knew her from the past
A candle burns on the altar
The food has come at last
A gentleman did talk to me
His beard and hair was grey
He talked about the mountains
And had a lot to say
I loved the spicy chutney
Spiced pickle even more
Always been a fan of pickle
Wanted more and more
A gentleman in suntanned skin
Did talk about Sai Baba
There was music and a prayer
But no Pina Colada
Three times we did chant the ‘OMM’
A mantra, powerful
The man looked smart, white shirt, black suit
White hair, amazing soul
Finally the food is served
And everyone is eating
As the sun is nice and warm
We don’t need any heating
I take some time to eat my meal
Some cake and pickled fruits
And my feet were overjoyed
That I had on no boots
I given thanks to everyone
Said ‘Bless You’ and ‘Good Bye’
And stepped out in an afternoon
Of sunshine and blue sky