Thomas Wells Poet Political Verse

Waitress

Earnings
help wanted
long evenings
a service toil of trays
which exhausted smile
the tip

Earnings
high cut mini
her service
always the management's eye
for sex

The table shines
coins in ashtrays
ashes in plates
faces crowded with food

Her service
"Are you finished?"
always the managements eye
for neatness

Earnings
nightly telephone music
always the same
always the management's ear
for music

Rude
they were loud
and their tip was conservative

Earnings
final tally
her husband walked out
her child to clothe
a decent respectable living
her service
always the management's eye
for atmosphere

Published Black Buzzard Press - 1982

♡Like0

Share Poem

---

Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

Anil Deo May 16, 2020 at 3:54 AM True to life; but many waitresses I encounter are rather past middle-age and painted with the cheap makeup. But I lived in central Virginia until I escape home. Thomas Wells May 16, 2020 at 10:44 AM As you can probably tell, the poem is old. There are no restaurants in the U.S. that have ashtrays, because smoking is prohibited now. I was quite young when I wrote it, which may explain why I created a younger waitress. Thanks!