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.

Telling the Hours

Twenty-four hours in a day
    Eight for sleep
    Two for gym
    Six for class
    Five for study
    Eight for work
    Two for nourishment
    One for play
    Ten for love
Oops.
     The numbers don't add up--
I never was all that good at math.

Info:
Editing status: Unedited. Very unedited.
Composed: 20 October 2008
Submissions: None
Inspiration: I'm always so busy and never have time for everything I need or want to do. I've been considering reconsidering my priorities so I can shift my commitments around, but haven't had the time. Case in point.

Untitled

What is the point of poetry?
A poem is a story
     in snack form
A story is an epic
     cut short.
What are you trying to say?
          Stop starving me.

Info:
Editing status: Unedited. Very unedited.
Composed: 20 October 2008
Submissions: None
Inspiration: Reading a poetry collection and thinking about the "why" behind the writing.