the return of the previous dish washer
i dreaded the second day
i did not want to go back to that job
face to face with that beast of a machine
it sucking at dirty dishes all day
like an old italian at his wife's breast
the day after she has given birth
the other workers in the kitchen scowling at me
they know i am not ready to die for this place
this second morning
i am not happy to be back
but before i can take off my coat
the boss approaches
and tells me that he is sorry
the old dishwasher wants her job back
and of course she was here for years
you understand don't you
and of course i do
i know that he knows
that i would not take shit
and he knows that if i didn't take it
some of his other workers would notice
and i have no sympathy for them
they take shit and ask for more
i do not mourn the job
i do not mourn the other workers
i head into the morning feeling just fine
and not thinking of it
or them
much at all
Copyright © michael dennis / Ordinary Press 1982
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