87

1.

"How are you doing?"

I asked,
the cleaner- who was

attempting to make
table 87 cleaner.


2.

"Humid," he replied:

indifferently.

3.

It was sweltering at 35 degrees
celcius.

He was referring to the weather.

4.

His hair was horay, dyed
gray by his son's absence;

he had no patience
for the trivial questions

of my sort.

5.

And he went about, proudly
in his green uniform;

removing

the satay sauce
from my table.

6.

I supose.

He'd want to pour
whatever's in the swill pot
over my head-

7.

for not even
a single sign

of gratitude.

8.

or for

9.

doing something
peculiar-

like trying to strike up
a conversation

with the stranger.


cuRRent...jer  ¶ 9:58 pm