by

Amy Schoenwald

 

Part I: The Drinker of Wine

She rose her glass and toasted
to prosperity
leaving lipstick stains on a glass
as breakable as she was
standing tall,
she called the waiter
with the snap of two powerful fingers
and asked for the check.

Part II: The Washer of Dishes

She drank the last drops of wine from the glass
because the job was more bearable when drunk
and she rubbed her fingers over the lipstick stain
and wondered why her lips were silenced
but this woman's lips stained even glasses
and why
this woman's fingers called people to her service
while her fingers grew calloused
under hot water and dish soap.

Part III: The Glass

      Shattered
      when she dropped it.