Main and Empty
Sara Bynoe
one week before I got fired
waiting on tables
at East Van’s favorite late night eatery
across from the neon light store/ drug front
down from ten coffee shops in four blocks
next to stores with silk screened ironic t-shirts,
locally made jewelry and retro records.
filling my arms with
local brew, sangria and the mix of the day,
black beans on basmati
coconut milk and quinoa
mango, tofu, peanut sauce,
large nachos the size of my torso.
two guys are sitting at a back table
drinking one p.m. beers
one hides behind Buddy Holly glasses
the other shields with a sleeve of tattoos
we talk
while white people with dreadlocks listen to hip hop
while the smell of spray paint loiters in the alley
while the new cook burns the chili
and I’m shedding dreams like onion tears
after three rounds
they left behind torn napkins
empty cigarette boxes
an insulting 6% tip
and a note
YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL
Originally published at blog.alexwaterhousehayward.com.
