Bistro

The women here are all a little nuts
keeping the place jumping making money
and I love them, will always return
to their wild hair mayhem circling
deep fryers that cook the best
damn freshwater fish I've ever tasted
people wander in steadily, old pickups
with polar bear license plates
rattle and hum in the gravel lot,
under a late night summer sun,
waiting for slightly juiced owners
to return with to-go fish and chips
greasy wrapped in old newspapers
the women keep on cooking
I keep on eating and order
another round of fish, a bottle of ale
and the people still pile into the hot room
growing hotter, cooking autographs
crowding the ceiling, my name, too
this is old town Yellowknife
and more than the great fish
wonderful, sizzling women, juke box blues
more than the jammed, happy crowd
the Bistro is the North Country
the new and forever home in my heart
yeah, I'll return to the women, the food, the patrons
this free form back bay taste of
Northwest Territory madness

copyright 2006 John Holt
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