suit yourself

the deli man
in his netted cap
and plastic gloves,
is an older
fellow.
maybe from new York,
something in the way he says
pastrami
makes me think that.
regular slice, he says,
or thin? need a taste,
i can do that,
when i tell him a half
a pound of ham,
do you want cheese with
that,
maybe a pint of potato
salad? or a pickle.
how about some mustard.
dark, or light?
spicy or mild.
i'm good i tell him.
just the ham, okay he
says,
suit yourself. your loss.