Chadwick
refused to shoot
until he had a salmon omelet.

I drove Hollywood Boulevard heat
asking restaurant to restaurant who would
cooperate

until finally a place
(since shut down)
said, yeah, we’ll
put salmon

in an omelet
for thirty-five
dollars.

And now, my boss
demands salmon
with lunch.

When there’s no salmon
at the nearby Giant Eagle he asks
Why are you in ghettosville?

I drive to the suburbs,
walk into the seafood section
and buy bags of pink flesh

hanging on a refrigerated
display for onlookers to ogle.

(originally published in Pomona Valley Review, Summer 2020)