Form- Sestina... The Hut

A quarter past six, I prepare for the dinner rush
My heart pounds
As the first customers race
To be sure to
Get their favorite seat
My opening salutation repeats, “May I get you a drink?”

I could really use a stiff drink
As the party of thirty, with seventeen children, rush
Past me, knocking over my tray with their appetizers.  I take a seat
On the floor as my head pounds.
I am a real person too!
I wish tonight wasn’t a race.

Some of the people must be a primitive race
How hard is it to drink
Without spilling the entire glass, and expect me to
Be your maid and rush
To your every want.  You make me want to pound
My fist into your face.  So please, kindly take a seat.

I feel as if I’m in the hot seat
The blood races
To my face as I blush and my arms feel like a million pounds.
Please bring me some water to drink
Before I faint and you have to rush
Me to the hospital in order to come-to.

Some days I wish I was two
Again.  Being able to sit in a booster seat
At a booth as my parents rush
To catch the pizza, before it is hurled to the floor.  It is a constant race
With children.  Please, no caffeine or sugar to drink
For them.  Later, it will be your head that will pound.

At the end of the night, I must have lost a few pounds
From running around the tables, to
Memorizing a thousand drinks.
Will you allow me to finally take a seat?
Only another hour until I will race
Home and at last get a shower.  Finally I sigh with relief and say, “ What a rush.”

I will complain about my job and the race and the rush at night.
But in the end, I love to see my customers happy with their favorite drink.
I take a seat on the edge of my bed, my heart still pounds from another night at the Hut.