I Miss Pok Pok Now that It’s Gone

I was never that fond of their food.
Flavored vinegars are all the rage but
not my thing—and this town is drowned
in good Thai food. Better Thai food.

It was convenient on the corner
and the neon said OPEN and NOPE
which we agreed was cute
but the wings had too much fish sauce.

They stayed OPEN through the snow
of ’16 when the streets were closed
for days of snow and ice and slush
feeding the neighborhood.

Now they’re gone. Forever NOPE
at 15th and Prescott. Ghosts
of restaurants will hanut this city
for decades after the pandemic ends.

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