Eating Out With Family Poem by RoseAnn V. Shawiak

At ease with family, eating pizza, drinking diet cokes,
watching the boys play video games.

Catching eyes of other patrons once in a while, smiling,
then getting back to a quiet reverie.

Serenely glancing around with every movement of a child
caught in the corner of my eye.

Looking outside all I can see is darkness, and everything
inside reflecting it's image towards my sight.

Listening to the many sounds of video arcades, hearing
the boys voices over them, as frustrated, they lose a
round to the computer.

Blinking lights beckon with tantalizing regularity at
little children who have not yet learned to resist the
sweet temptations of lights and sounds, protruding
from the screens with animated images running around.

(8: 00 p.m. - 8/31/93)