Please wait to be seated

Please wait to be seated.
You will be shown to good seats
but you will have to surrender.

Stand there and wait.
You may be given a public place,
in the centre of the faces and voices,
or a private booth:
a watching space, a listening hush.
You will be ushered by good-looking attendants
but you will have to surrender.

Observe the rituals.
Listen carefully, ask
clearly and quietly,
behave with respect.

And let a hungrier person go before you
and let a weaker person hold onto you.
Then wait in silence.
You will be shown.