To Be... Poem by Jan Oskar Hansen

To be and not to be.

My respect for life is profound
I try to become a vegetarian, but when I visited a restaurant
it was wildly expensive,
mind, it looked posh with livered waiters and haughty diners.
Ate soup and a glass of water
what I'm looking for a place that doesn't charge the earth
for carrots and beans even when artistically served.
I don't ask for much, just a platter of greens that taste
almost as good as goat chops with salad.
I bought something at a vegan shop it looked like meat
fried it tasted artificial but ate it all since I have no dog
and hate to waste food.
In the evening I eat boiled cabbage with Portuguese
smoked sausages, to give the soup zing.
So, when not swatting flies, I'm respectful of life.