Tail Order Poem by Ima Ryma

I see on a restaurant sign,
'Five hundred dollars if we fail'
'To fill any order to dine.'
So I order elephant tail
On rye bread, trying not to smile.
The waitress does not say a thing,
And takes my order. In a while,
She returns, apologizing,
Saying there will be a delay.
Shaking his head, the chef comes out,
And then the owner comes my way,
To tell me there's no tail, no doubt.

'Here's your money, ' the owner said,
'First time we've been out of rye bread.'