Men talking to Fish

“Mann – Fisch – Tisch”
(a painting by Michael Sowa)

Vintage black and white tile
A white tablecloth neatly draped over the dining table
A single open beer on the far side of one of the diners,
who is leaning across the table towards his companion,
his large fleshy lips parted as if to speak
He is desolate, no family, no friends,
but a fish, his mouth frozen in the last gasp
of death, is a fine companion for this lonely night
sitting at the table with the fine white cloth
a beer close at hand, his shoes resting on vintage
black and white tile.