eating alone

disclaimer: i had been planning to post this poem for quite some time now....it's something that was written a while back. a friend of mine posted a poem of similar title and subject. when i read hers i decided not to post this one...but then again, there are only so many ideas in the world right?

eating alone

curiously, the happy couples stare at the woman
who sips her soup while glancing
intermittently at the clock.
the women whisper and point with their eyes.
the men, less discreet, gesture openly with their hands.
a little snicker then a soft chuckle
as the happy couples make light of her loneliness.
the woman ignores or just seems to.
the pain in her heart wells up and spills out of her eyes.
nervously and therefore conspicuously,
she dabs her cheeks with her napkin.
suddenly, the waiter appears and nods
at the empty place setting across from her.
with no words at all, he accuses and condemns,
judging and sentencing with a simple tilt of the head.
each course passes in like fashion until--
the check.
in a desperate attempt at humour, she comments
as she hands the waiter his tip.
he forces a smile for her sake
and watches with pity as she walks towards the exit.
with a sigh, he begins to clear the table.
and out of respect for her, he handles the clean dishes
as though used.
outside, the woman straightens herself and walks away,
hoping her presence there will quickly be forgotten.

© soledad evans (2000)