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Waitress

Waitress
David J Walker

There is a waitress working at
The Sunrise coffee shop

Who knows her tips depend
On a convincing performance

To that end she knows my name
I am
    Darlin or 
              sugar or 
                         sweets pie
It’s good to live in the South

She reminds me of how
21 felt

She reminds me of the
Freedom from obligation

She reminds me of lost
Liberal thought

She reminds me of unbridled
Anticipation

She reminds me of how one can
Live on minimum wage

She reminds me that my songs
Are sung by dead and dying artists

She reminds me though my clothes 
are clean they are sadly out of date

She reminds me of the awkwardness
Of the ascending obligations of adulthood

She reminds me of a
Hungering wontedness

She reminds me of the mysteries
Of sex

She reminds me, unintentionally,
That I’m a grandfather

She reminds me that I am a veteran of battles
Won or lost a half century ago

She reminds me that no matter what else I am
I am also the mentor of everyday students
Walking the streets

It’s worth an extra dollar or so
To let her know

Her smile and the coffee is enough to
Keep me coming back

Where every morning she serves it up 
hot and black

With the mystery of memories 
On the side
Copyright © | Year Posted 2022

Poem

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