Food Diplomacy

i well remember school lunch that day
rice, mashed potato and cauliflower cheese
but for afters we played tabletennis
and joe said i must come round that evening
meet valerie and have a beer 'n dat sort a ting

back on the northern line - dalston junction
up the flight of concrete steps
swishing red buses 'n cars
anticipating beers, decided to line my tummy

with time to spare a chinese place fed me
special pork chow mein and chicken fried rice

joe's dark basement flat was near the market
lights and gas fire were burning
little mervyn hid behind the settee grinding his teeth
reluctantly said good night and then bed

the huge fridge-freezer hummed in the corner
joe ate from a huge pyrex bowl and i being
a visitor ate from a large patterned plate

val made many trips to the kitchen spiced
baked chicken, pork, rice 'n peas; but when
the heaps of coo-coo appeared i had to tell
all to joe when val was out getting more

so every time val went in the kitchen
joe scooped food from my plate into his
so with those sorts of skills 'n generosity
little wonder he is a high commissioner
tho' his suit is tight 'n neck disappeared