the bartender is paid
six dollars an hour
to be friendly
and
to enhance her chances
at receiving a tip
she calls you “honey”
while making sure
you have a cold fresh beer
as soon as you put down
an empty
glass.
but at this place
i’m your regular, regular–
the quiet guy
sitting patiently in the corner
who’s desperate
and has nothing else to do
but spend a good portion
of each paycheck here
week after week.
so i’m not really sure
if it’s my familiar face
or the stack of bills
locked away
inside of my pocket
that gets the bartender
to wink and smile at me
when walking by
to serve the other
customers.
even if her courtesy
is contrived
it’s still nice to have some kindness
while drowning in the bottom of
pint after pint after pint
glass.