James Rykelangeli18 Mar 2005

A clearly-written, well-structured, and emotive poem. Very well done! You are quite justified in posting it as one poem: it is, after all, an integrated whole. The reverse chronology also adds psychological and emotional tension.
Still, the poem has difficulties. When the waitress and the owner are interacting, the waitress's presence seems unnecessary, for it's the owner who fetches the zinfandel: "Our friend disappeared into the darkness, rummaging..." Is the owner testing her knowledge of what he likes to drink?