While dancing through my life I chanced,
to halt upon the way,
whilst serving food and drink to folk;
I depend upon their pay.
Sixteen ladies clad in purple,
each with a smart red hat,
applauded me for service rendered,
and I was content with that.
Their tips were adequate, at least,
as gratefulness was shown;
they beat the gratuity of richer men,
as their miserliness I've known.
How hard is it to figure out
a lousy ten percent?
That's the least I should expect
from the financially reticent.
Fifteen says that I was good,
and did my job quite well;
while twenty tells me they were pleased
and my manager would tell.
As for those who leave me just
mere pennies on the dollar,
"Here, keep this, you have much more need",
is what I want to holler.
©2008
2-16-2008
Author notes
While not necessarily typical, the number of nitwits who still think that a dollar is an adequate tip on any bill are far too many.
Written for the contest: 5000 points winner takes all. Easy stuff. by Nogod
http://allpoetry.com/contest/2391407
A contest entry
- 5000 points winner takes all. Easy stuff. by Nogod.
5000 points, ended March 3, 2008, 24 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
A critical comment is invited
Comments
1 - 12 of 12
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Tips keep some of these workers going, and although I do not often tip big, I do always leave something, more ethan a penny though. INteresting thing to remember about the yesterday.
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I had teenage buddies who would put a penny in the water glass and, covering it with sheet of paper, would deftly turn the glass upsidedown on the table slipping away the paper. The result was a 1¢ tip trapped in a glass full of water on its head. That's what happens when 12 year old dilinquents abuse what they've learned from experiments in physics class!
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Would that it were only kids doing this. It is uppety-up executives from the local industry. And, my day Wednesday was even worse. My philosophy? If you cannot afford a minimum tip of 10% (which is not good, but passable) then do not go out. That is what McDondald's is for.
Thank you for reading and commenting. Both are greatly appreciated.
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I,ve worked in restaurants, too, and said the same thing to folks I've know who didn't like tipping.
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Note my one "clappy" applause...now there's a cheesy "tip" for such a good poem!
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I liked this, it wasn't what I was expecting when I clicked on it but this was great. It had a very sing-song flow (probably because it rhymed, but this rhyming didn't seem forced or anything, it was quite good).
I always want to tip really well because I feel like it might make someone's day.
good write
-gibson -
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Thank you for taking the time to read and comment.
Tipping is really part of the server's wages. It should not be, but that is the reality of it. Typically, it should be 15-18% of the bill for good service. We usually tip 20% or better for outstanding service. Sometime, tips are the only thing paying the bills.
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I cant help but think...why your boss dont pay you more...why should the public pay you for him...those non tippers or lousy tippers are refections of your boss...how wealthy are they?...though I always tip...knowing this...it is a shame...the tip is your pay...not a grituity that puts extra in your pocket...
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It is just the system. It is expected that in the food industry, you get tips. Some states require that servers are paid minimum wage and you still get tips, others have a minimum that only servers are paid. It amounts to about $2.25 an hour. Usually it works out okay. One day I made $4.45 an hour. Yesterday I made $19.95 an hour. It all balances, but it is uneven and hard to predict. This is not my usual job at work. I get paid much more than minimum for that; I am just filling in until they get more servers hired. The advantage of this job over a regular job is that I can get time off pretty much whenever I want it. For me, that is as important as anything else.
Thank you for reading and commenting. Both are appreciated. And, especially from you.
rous
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We've talked about this; sad in this day and age that people can't (STILL) figure out the very basics...that we don't smoke while pumping gas, that we don't sing along with our walkman in the crowded elevator, that we don't have to know whose it is (it's enough, or should be, that we know it isn't ours!) and that where we expect personal service, that service merits additional thanks along with what we already owe for just the food.
Jeeezus...I watch those same rich businessmen who'd tip the waitress a dollar for a full meal leave two or three bucks for the barista at Starbucks!
Ya gotta wonder what's goin' on in their minds!
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that was a fun read. I enjoyed how you made something as simple as working, so playful with your words. good job.
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Great work, I loved it
I liked the rhyming and you just did this so well!!
Anyways, great work
Good luck in your contest! I hope you win!
Doodles
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