no eel

there is confusion
at the sushi bar.
the lists are long,
the blue marker in your hand
is cautious as
you read down the columns,
trying to understand
what fish is what,
what's cooked, what's raw,
what might
kill you. where is
eel, you don't want eel.
you used to catch eels
in the river
and cut the line, to let
them go. you can still
see them snapping away
in the water
like black whips.
the waitress is bored
and tired of explaining
the spicy, the sweet,
she doesn't understand what
you want,
and neither do you.
so you hand the menu
across the table and sigh,
please, just order for.
no eel.