Oasis

I am 30 and writing
A revision of my recent
Dissertation on FDR and
Churchill 1940-1943 using
The Hoover Library at an
Institute for the summer.
They expect me to paint
A negative portrait of FDR
For lying but I support him,
Presidents like the police
Do not have to tell the truth
To achieve the public’s safety.
I am introduced to the “Oasis”
Oyster Bar with a floor of an
Inch or two of crushed salted
In the shell peanut shells from
The baskets of free peanuts
On every table while sports
Events played on the wall TVs.
Clever to offer free salted peanuts
And sell cold beers and oysters,
The more peanuts customers ate
The more beer they drank and
The more cheerful the group
Became though I do not drink
And so remember these events.
The Oasis became the place to
Go after work and many fun
And pleasant conversations
Occurred there on all topics
Political to cultural to whatever
Topics drifted by always with
The crunching of peanut shells,
Burps of beer and more oysters.
A pleasant memory of a place
In California where everyone
Was welcome and a collegial
Atmosphere prevailed open
To all who enjoyed good
Company and bleary
Intellectual laughs
Though we did
Not solve the
World’s ills
We did
Eat
A lot of peanuts.