she is beautiful
.
.
sometimes
a waitress has the power
to break your heart
with her kindness
this morning
there is an 80-year-old
bringing me coffee
with the same
watch yourself it’s hot care
a grandmother would
one of her legs is longer than the other
she has a special lifted shoe
and walks with a limp
i see lines deepen around her eyes
with every step
she is in pain
she has sons who don’t call
she makes me want to sit her down
and wait on her
ask her lilting southern voice
where she was
when we killed martin and each kennedy
after my bagel disappeared
i left her a twenty on the table
though i can’t afford to
pondering that no one deserves this at age 80
the word expatriate
forms a bitter lump in my throat
settling up at the cashier stand
i tell the flippant manager
with the microphone
strapped all dip-shitted to his head
of the excellent service i received
she comes from the back as fast as her
feet are willing waving the currency
saying urgently
ma’am,
did you mean to leave this?
my mouth responds through a smile
if i could
it would be a thousand more
she is beautiful
when she’s speechless
Alicia, your poetry always gives me chills, you are one of my favorite women poets, bar none! 🙂
Yes the day to day observation works. Easy to overlook and a joy to write about!