The pale man with the radiant crown sits in the coffee shop with his head down,
His newspaper folded precisely beside him. His eyes meet
The current of the pulsating tea in front of him and he
Earnestly grips the sweaty sides of the mug and brings the ceramic mass
When he’s sucked the last drop of hot Earl Grey, he
Orders the gregarious waiter to bring him brine vegetable soup, and a
Slice of ciabatta with butter. The waiter smiles, beaming at the man’s
Jeweled, spectacular diadem.
The pale man in the coffee shop bites at his bread and
Slurps away his nourishing soup, surely offending the fellow patrons,
And politely tucks his serviette over the hollow soup bowl.
When the waiter returns to clear his place, the man grimaces.
“My sordid soup,” he sighs, “was terrible. And my bread, stale.”
The waiter frowns and apologizes sincerely, but the man objects.
He says, “Call the manager here,” and so the waiter does.
The flustered manager arrives hastily to the table, groaning when he sees that
The unhappy customer is the man wearing the radiant crown.
“Sir,” the manager snaps, “your ego is brimming. You come to my café for
Brunches and suppers every week, gorge in my food, and insult it for a free meal.
You think you’re too important to pay. Sir, your ego is swelling so much that
A jagged crown decorated in rhinestones is
Growing through your skull.”
Leaves the restaurant and wears his crown
Through the door and into the world.