Gloucester, England

The snackbar way in the back

past the celery and tinned pears,

always a cup of tea with a sausage roll –

     when I went back, it was gone.

                                     Cleveland

The White Castle next to the streetcar stop,

duck in all the time for a hamburger

and a frosted mug of root beer –

     when I went back, it was a bicycle shop.

                                     New Haven

If we missed breakfast in the dining hall,

we’d nip over the street to a Greek diner,

told them always scramble two, with toast –

     when I went back, I bought my first cellphone.

                                     Indianapolis

I started work at six every day;

round the corner from the office,

a buttered roll and a coffee to go –

     when I went back, it was rubble.