BARTENDER

It's clock in,
Look around,
Frame my mind...
Warm up, nice and smooth,
Just two orders at a time.
It's "do this" and "that's the price",
To the new staff.
It's wave, wave, wave,
Burnin through the goddamn
Whiskey fast.
It's glares, it's snickers,
It's bros, it's tits,
It's, "can I see your ID please?",
It's double shot,
It's hi-ball, lowball,
"Do you have it?"
"You gotta get it."
"Make us four!"
Don't even get a please,
Ah, fuck it with polite.
Make it fast, get it right.
"Can you call me a cab?"
"Go outside!"
"I'm not serving you pal,
Leave the bar."

...

It's late. It's heavy.
It's wet hair and long pauses.
It's a damn fine cause.
It's open bottles, clinking glasses,
Surprises, chances,
Random acts of coalescing.
It's a last beer after a long sweep.
It's the company I keep.
It's just work.