Poem #18

No one cries
at Chuck E. Cheese
land of eternal happiness
for screaming children
raining tokens
everywhere

No one cries
at Chuck E. Cheese
animatronic band
singing cheerful songs
as children
eat sausage pizza
and Spiderman birthday cake

No one cries
at Chuck E. Cheese
Certainly not kindergarteners
enjoying their first playdate
out of school
chasing one another through endless tunnels
while the adults look on, smiling

No, no one cries
at Chuck E. Cheese
certainly not an adult
who stands with other adults
who talk amongst themselves
somehow forgetting
the awkward redhead
in the black skirt
who doesn't cry
because no one cries
at Chuck E. Cheese