Rita A. Simmonds Poet Free verse

Diner Off Exit 66

How many come, 
get gassed, fed, watered, relieved,
and leave the waitresses,
ladies of the all-night
indifferent to day—
a dinner omelet, 
a breakfast cocktail,
where every meal
is any meal,
and bitter coffee
continually flows
from the counter,
where America’s finest ketchup
stands proud behind the sugar,
forever used up,
refilled,
replaced,
changing hands 
like the guest check
turned and overturned,
or the saucer-covered quarters
it took an hour to earn?

I leave whatever I can
on this smooth, reflecting counter,
impressed by the depression
of a stop along the way,
where only those who serve
will stay.

February 1, 2017
for "Travel Light" Contest

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Kai Michael Neumann February 2, 2017 at 5:03 PM Hi Rita. This is a great poem. Gentle, hard hitting, pleasant, truthful and kind at the same time. I can learn from this and I will. Well written, Kai Rita A. Simmonds February 2, 2017 at 6:36 PM Thank you! I like the theme you picked.

Mark Martin February 2, 2017 at 3:34 PM Great take on the subject - a diner through time rather than a snapshot. Congratulations! :-) Rita A. Simmonds February 2, 2017 at 3:55 PM Thank you, Mark!

Deborah Burch February 2, 2017 at 9:21 AM Congratulations Rita!! Well done!!! Big Hugggs. Deb Rita A. Simmonds February 2, 2017 at 10:15 AM Thank you, Deb!

Darren White February 2, 2017 at 6:42 AM What a great take on the subject :) This is so incredibly well written! Nice to discover your poetry because you too entered the contest. Congratulations! Rita A. Simmonds February 2, 2017 at 10:22 AM Thank you, Darren!