at a three star diner

I am a napkin

a real napkin

dealing with

real messes

attending to

real people's

mouths and chins

hands and bosoms

ties and shirts

"No don't!"

never use me

for this

what do you

think you do

I should never

put there ever

by no-one

never there

not this

"Oh no!"

if my family

of fine napkins

ever finds out

where I have been

will they still

respect me

the starched

stuck up napkin

I am glad the

French garcon

pretended not to

see a thing

himself too busy

counting tips

as I shined the

tip of your

spit wetted shoe.

helmut s. 97/98

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