a slow boat to somewhere

I think about going to china
as I sit
in a Chinese restaurant,

but I don't know anyone there, yet.
take a slow boat, perhaps.

I don't speak the language,
or know anything about it other than
what I've
learned at

Peking Gourmet, but it might be fun.
I stare at the paper placemat,

trying to figure out which animal
I am.

the rat, the snake, the rabbit.
then I order another mai tai, that
first one

went down too easy.
the guy comes over to refill
my water glass again,

after I took another sip.
I want to ask him about china,

but I think he's from Cuba.

Cuba might be fun too, closer
and it's like going back into time.