Check Please
Check Please
Poem by Elizabeth Stelling
Art by Dorothee Lang
After seven glasses of tasted wine in the class
new friends made me laugh as the Japanese girl
went on and on, making my head spin
I still managed to pay attention to her every word
We all talked of food experiences, restaurants
authenticity of cuisine and menu
‘Green’ salad, fois gras, and blue cheese risotto delights
Ordered, eaten, all making for a good experience, but
you sir had to go and ruin it by planting your lips
onto my mouth, darting your tongue in and out
with no permission, when all I meant to do
was reach in for a hug like the others who
got into their cars and left us alone
In a parking lot an alien appeared out of
nowhere leaving me to my own devices
If I wanted dessert I would have ordered it.
-refers from the phrase “Go easy on the booze” from Richard Allen Taylor’s Poem Domestic Advice to a Divorced Friend


I laugh every time I read this and can visualize it so clearly! And it’s such a perfect follow-up to the wonderful piece it refers to. Very well done!
I enjoyed Elizabeth’s reference to my poem and the mingling of food, wine and French kisses. Laissez les bon temps roulez!
Glad you guys enjoyed it! Chef E is a hoot and for some reason these comments didn’t show up in my email so sorry for delay in responding!
This was hilarious and Elizabeth puts a nice little bite at the end. This was such an original premise for a poem, just so clever!
Great imagery. Well seasoned with a bit of spice at the end.
The comments here are nearing being as clever as the poem itself
This was a fun read. Poetry should sweep us off our feet like this more often.
I just want to apologize to Chef E for my intruding tongue. It was the wine, you know? Goes straight to my head.
Love the art, Love the poem. Funny and so easy to visualize and easy to relate. Clever!
Dorothee, so nice to see this image here:-) I remember very well the night we shared a wonderful meal in that beautiful dining room in Vienna. We did order dessert, didn’t we?
Thanks everyone! IT was a learning experience, and a great meal! LOL
Very cute Elizabeth —- Ray
I really like the sassiness of this poem.