Nick Ripatrazone
found the last automat in the world
in the woods behind our house.
She brought towels and Windex
to reveal condensated glass, corroded
coin slots, EAT THIS NOW stickers, lemon
meringue and huckleberry pie slices,
baked beans cold, pasted to the plate.
We ran extension cords back to our deck
and lit the food again after all these years.
I felt like coffee but my nickels dropped
straight toward the return slot. No need
to turn the knob. No reason to wait.