This breakfast is nice,
      Bacon, eggs, grits on the side
      Black coffee to taste
      Not one drop going to waste
      Come my people, dine with me! 
 


*********
 
Author’s Comments:  This is dedicated 
to the breakfast table of the family 
fellowshipping together in unity. 
This highlights the most important meal of 
the day. While sitting in an African-American 
restaurant for a late breakfast, I decided to 
write this poem while the customers (my brothers 
and sisters of color) were royally dining.  
This tanka reflects their comments, enjoyment, 
and sentiments.  It was awesome taking notes 
while some licked their fingers and wiped 
their plates with the last piece of bread. 
While drinking their coffee, not one drop went 
to waste.  They were all wearing smiling faces; 
some were young adults, middle aged, and others 
were older, yet some were much younger.  
They were males and females of different 
nationalities, hues, and backgrounds; 
however, they were greeting each other just 
as brothers and sisters should, while having 
a wonderful breakfast.  The tanka is a 5th 
Century Japanese poetic form.  It has 
a 5/7/5/7/7 syllable format for a total of 
thirty-one syllables.