Waikiki

Transitioning today to Waikiki,
we ready for the culture shock: the crowd
that waits outside The Cheesecake Factory;
the flares of tiki torches; pulsing loud
and bass-less music blasting from the bars
that perforates the beach like scattershot;
the waves of brand-name stores; the tides of cars
and taxi cabs; the sidewalk polyglot.

It’s called the capital of paradise
but nobody would argue it’s the best,
unless the score depends on Mai Tai price
and luau shows, and time-share talks addressed
to people so commercially confused,
they can’t tell if they’re anxious or amused.