Girl In The Middle
It was all in her eyes
and something about the two ragamuffins
sitting with no food at the table in the corner
watching her — my lover and I have come into
the diner from the back door, place about empty
her eyes said — square on us both — I’m ready for you
we smiled, said hello then ordered two salads
with grilled chicken
and one large Coke
plus a large fries
and if she would
please serve the fries
the way they look in the photograph
on the wall behind her
her eyes darted, very cat
she purred, “oh wouldn’t it be
something if we could be served
food the way it looked in the pictures.”
now I really liked her
the two ragamuffins seemed to be listening
I liked her because she reminded me of my
lover who is capable of saying the very same thing
and because of that solvency it all worked out splendidly
she went and served up the fries precisely as they
looked in the picture and I told her she has
now proven it can be done
she may have curtsied
in one of those stupid uniforms
looking on fire
while the rest of the staff, I’m sorry
looked-on like dopes
we were midway done with our meal
out in the truck cab
when she left with the two ragamuffins
4 o’clock shift over
big truck
loud truck
two guys and this girl in the middle
Stone Over Stone
to bal
ance
the
stone
takes
eye
&
hand
& for
get
ting
thought
All
There is
nothing
greater
than a
greatness
that
comes
not at
all
________________________
Bob Arnold
Heaven Lake
Longhouse 2018
