Tending Bar

The bottles lines up behind me
   labels facing out, pourers facing left,
   necks reaching up
The customers talk
   to me,
   at me,
   around me,
   rarely (but sometimes) with me
I smile, I ask, they answer,
     I pour
   liquids in pretty colors
     into
   glasses in pretty lines
     topped with
   garnishes with pretty shapes.
An entire culture
   with expectations, customs, games,
     and attempts at getting by
   built upon this
    pretty poison.
I facilitate
   bonding,
     escapism,
       relaxation,
         enjoyment,
           addiction
   without a second thought--
and I wipe the bar clean
   for the next one.


Info:
Editing status: Unedited. Very unedited.
Composed: 20 October 2008
Submissions: None
Inspiration: I recently started bartending, and it fascinates me, everything that goes on at a bar--and how often I have to go without noticing it because I have to focus on bringing in money for the bar and for myself.