During National Novel Writing Month, I am highlighting a selection of my contributions to the 6 Sentences Social Network. This was originally posted in March of 2009. It was in response to a prompt from Anthony Venutolo
It used to be a nice place
Somehow, without anyone noticing
It became a soap opera with a good wine list.
Double shifting due to the new kid
double fisting at the bar after his first paycheck,
My aching feet and complaining knees support an
invisible willingness to clear plates and fill
water glasses with a smile.
In the few quiet moments while
they chew, sip, and nod I lean
against the oak bar and observe
eyes bounce from table to table like errant
ping pong balls.
Some put on their church clothes
Spend too much on food they can’t pronounce and don’t appreciate,
trying to convince themselves they aren’t Ralph and Alice.
But they are. Even quality tailoring
can’t hide that.
Some travel in packs, teeth glistening
armoured in tafeta, rousching, designer denim, and satin pumps
convinced they are doing battle with someone other than themselves.
They arrive as warriors, and
go home slaves.
Table, booth, or bar
it makes no difference.
Everyone that walks through the door
feels like a movie star because
it’s our job to make them feel that way.
When the chairs are up, the floors
glisten with mop streaks and the bleach
in the air stings my eyes.
I will go fetch Lisa the sous chef, from the kitchen.
Hand in hand, we catch the last train home
Our pockets fat with 15% of the dreams
the dreamers dreamed tonight.
Very succinct look at people’s behavior. I loved the line ‘It became a soap opera with a good wine list.’ Great job!
Ah, a poem. And a very good one, too. Especially that last stanza. Love the title. Peace, Linda
A prose poem! I think this is the first I’ve read from you sci fi chef (other than the menu haikus).
This is wondrous. My fav line was this ‘Our pockets fat with 15% of the dreams the dreamers dreamed tonight.’
Love “they arrived as warriors, and go home slaves”
and the dig at Ralph and Alice not appreciating the food
Very nice. The waiter point of view was a fun one to look through. The best kind of people watching there is, I’m sure!
I like this a lot. Warriors/slaves and 15% of the dreams are especially nice turns of phrase.
Shouldn’t that be “quiet” moments in the first line of verse three?
Guilty. I am one of those dreamers. Dressed in my tee shirt and jeans, my husband and I go out to take part in the ‘play’ at the restaurant. We need to be pampered by strangers. We are so grateful we always leave 20%! I love the prose/poetry. It makes it much easier to read without missing any of the references.
This is very wonderful.