The diner glows fluorescent at 2 a.m.,
beckons boozers and truckers, runaways,
women between men.
Mary receives them
as her namesake received Gabriel,
pours coffee unbidden, tends
to coconut cream and lemon meringue,
eggs over easy, a malt for the guy
with stringy hair, jittery for a fix.
She saves her tips in a pickle jar
under the grill — enough, she hopes,
to post 50 bucks for her old man’s bail
come morning.
Sarah Russell
First published in Kentucky Review
Sarah Russell Poetry 
Loved it!
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Thanks so much!
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Wow! Another great one. Would be curious to know the thinking behind the lines…
“Mary receives them as her namesake received Gabriel,”
Obviously biblical but was their some specific thought you had when you wrote those lines?
Still enjoying your poetry/writings!
Bob
>
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Thanks, Bob, but interpretations aren’t mine to explain. They are always the reader’s own. Maybe others will weigh in.
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I remember when we had a prompt on 2 am… so much happening, or nothing. There is a life’s story in that jar of tips.
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Based on a true story, Bjorn. And there is truly a life’s story there. Thanks for reading.
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Excellent story-telling. Seamless.
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Thanks so much, Colin.
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Big smile here.
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Had to go check out a poetry blog called I hate poetry… And like Frost said, it IS a condition. Thanks.
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This is soo incredibly vivid! I felt like I was there 🙂
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Thanks so much!
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I so enjoyed the descriptions of the people and food served at the diner and Mary’s tip jar with hopes to spring her man from jail…that says a lot right there!
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Thanks so much, Gayle. Just visited your site and am enjoying your poetry very much.
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Cool poem! Sounds like the setup to a gritty movie, but so real, too. So many people live a version of this life.
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Yes, so true. And often these folks are invisible. Thanks.
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A real slice of life, served up with a side of hard-scrabble truth.
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Thanks, MW. The truth for a lot of women, I think.
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It was simply delightful. I really loved how you described the different food and people and the details such as, “money in the jar under the grill”, really wonderful!
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Thanks so much.
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No problem at all!
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This poem is cinematographic, Sarah, and really zings in the imagination. The ending is so poignant:
‘She saves her tips in a pickle jar
under the grill — enough, she hopes,
to post 50 bucks for her old man’s bail
come morning’.
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Thanks, Kim.
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love these slice of life poems..this one is wonderful.
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Thank you, Rajani. I just went over to visit your site. Beautiful poetry.
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Thank you Sarah, that’s very kind. Appreciate your support.
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oh my……..you’ve painted quite a scene. The quintessential small time diner. I’m reminded of that old tv show Alice and the waitress who chewed gum and had a flamboyant lacey hankie in her pocket! 🙂
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Smile here. I loved Alice’s sass. Mary didn’t take any guff either, but was a bit more broken down.
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I’m sure that diner could tell many tales…from both sides of the counter!
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Yup. Thanks for reading, Bryan.
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So sorry, unexpected visitors last night have made me rather late in responding to your piece. A great poem Sarah: “eggs over easy, a malt for the guy
with stringy hair, jittery for a fix.” is perfect and very beautiful writing…
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Thanks, Scott. High praise!
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This is a visual treat. Nice.
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Thanks very much, Misty.
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There’s a whole life in this short poem, beautifully and succinctly told.
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Thanks, Jane.
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My pleasure 🙂
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What a wonderful descriptive perspective on the microcosm of a middle-of-the-night diner and its patrons! You took us there with you. Bravo
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Thank you, Bev.
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A nicely wrought vignette!
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Thank you, Jennifer.
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A very vivid story poem for all the senses, you can smell the food and feel the heartache
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Thanks very much, Xenia.
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This is SO good. I love your style.
The second stanza is my favorite. Well done!
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Thanks, Omega.
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Great description od the dinner, her loyal lady and the reality of her life…bkm
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Thanks, Barbara. I knew the lady, and she surely was loyal.
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I can hear plates clink and Mary calling customers “hon”…enjoyed the flavor and humanity of this.
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Thank you, Lynn.
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Admiring the snapshot of Mary doing her double shift ~ Enjoyed this one ~
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Thanks, Grace.
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Good story telling. Intense.
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Thanks, Imelda.
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Nice. A whole story here, great detailing.
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Thanks so much, Sarah.
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