no soup for you

i pick up some kung pao
chicken
and some egg rolls from
the local Chinese restaurant.
hunan east.
the windows are greasy,
the tables
and chairs all wobble,
it's an effort to stay
upright let alone trying
to eat with chopsticks.
mai tai?
joe asks as i sit at the small
three stool tiki bar
awaiting my carryout order.
sure, i tell him. but go
easy on the fruit, and skip
the little paper umbrella,
i almost poked my eye out
the last time i was here.
no hot and sour soup? he says.
no, i tell him. that's over.
no soup this time.
i'm done with soup.