The Waitress
from A Bit Of Light by Tobin Mueller
At the edge of my table, at the edge of the world,
a waitress opens her hands.
I see that they're empty... she's able
to recall everything as she stands.
I fold up my life
and place it to the side.
I want to confide,
tell her everything I'd come to hide.
And she listens without effort.
Does she know how much she comforts,
taking everything inside?
And she glistens with an aura
that calls me to collide.
(Take my order.)
Please, miss, come take my order now.
Please, come take my order now.
As the kitchen door opens
all the sounds and the lights that were hidden so carefully behind,
they tumble out after
and I wonder what else these walls are meant to hide?
Is she smoothing her hair as she thinks of what I have said?
Does she wonder, as I, what else I might want,
what lies ahead?
Take my order. (Please, miss...)
Am I ordered enough to know?
Take my order. (Please...)
Can I order your eyes to go?
Make me order. (Don't let me miss...)
Take me where you want to know.
Make me order and I'll know which way to go.
At the edge of my table, at the edge of the world,
an empty plate lies there abused.
There's more than I'm able to say to her now,
there's no time left and I'm too confused.
Does she know there's a cost
in defining the things we must choose?
Would she go there with me
to where nothing like normal hunger rules?
And she listens without effort.
Does she know how much she comforts,
taking everything inside.
And she glistens with an aura
that calls me to collide.
Take my order.
Am I ordered enough to know?
Take my order.
Can I order your eyes to go?
Make me order,
take me where you want to know.
Make me order and I'll know which way to go.
©2003, 2007 Tobin Mueller
Song Notes: During a period of my life, before I moved away from the City and married Suzanne, I often ate alone. I'd bring a book and pretend I was enjoying my solitude. Sometimes, a waitress would look at me in a way that made my imagination wander...
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