Sunday, November 13, 2011

Magpie Tales 91: Table For One

 Photo provided by Tess Kincaid


waitress 



she stood at your 
table for one, 
waiting for the music
to begin, waiting 

for you to take 
her hand, waiting 
'til the guests had gone
and orchestra 
silent: 

it was closing time 
and there were 
no tables left
upon which to 
stack the

chairs. 


Poem ©2011 R. Burnett Baker 


Note:  This painting that Tess provided this week also reminded me of a song titled "Closing Time."  Now this title has been used for songs by Semisonic, Matchbox20, Tom Waits, and as a song performed by Leonard Cohen.  But my favorite is by Lyle Lovett, featured as the last song on his "Live In Texas" album.  I'm not posting the video here, but just the YouTube link if anyone cares to venture a listen...
http://youtu.be/o80pVLDDJh4


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26 comments:

  1. Linda Bob Grifins Korbetis HallNovember 13, 2011 at 6:53 AM

    closing time, no tables for those chairs.


    These two lines are very charming.
    love your magpie.

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  2. UnknownNovember 13, 2011 at 7:33 AM

    Ah...very romantic!

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  3. Other MaryNovember 13, 2011 at 7:38 AM

    Oh, nice thought to pair it with that song. Love your closing lines.

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  4. Brandee ShaferNovember 13, 2011 at 10:37 AM

    I wonder why he lingered with neither company nor entertainment. Must have been a great cocktail.

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  5. Vicki LaneNovember 13, 2011 at 10:42 AM

    Haunting!

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  6. christopherNovember 13, 2011 at 11:04 AM

    This picture lets the poems go all over. I like where you landed.

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  7. citybuoyNovember 13, 2011 at 12:45 PM

    This reminds me of a different song by Liz Phair. That and this post share the same title. I'd love to know why they're both alone. What do you think?

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  8. Tess KincaidNovember 13, 2011 at 2:29 PM

    Haunting and romantic...love the song, too, by the way...

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  9. Susan AndersonNovember 13, 2011 at 3:42 PM

    You swept me away a little bit here...

    It was a lovely trip, too.

    =)

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  10. stevenNovember 13, 2011 at 5:26 PM

    when time closes . . . there are no tables, no chairs, just the essence of a moment hovering full as all sum of all the moments that have led up to it. steven

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  11. Maude LynnNovember 13, 2011 at 6:32 PM

    Excellent write!

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  12. Chronicles of IllusionsNovember 14, 2011 at 12:50 AM

    it has an almost spectral feel to it - wow

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  13. Janet MartinNovember 14, 2011 at 6:45 AM

    sweet, sweet melancholy. love it, and yes, the mood of that song is captured here. Thank-you for visiting my blog and for your kind thoughts.

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  14. LynNovember 14, 2011 at 6:57 AM

    Loneliness, abandonment....so beautifully expressed...

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  15. izzyNovember 14, 2011 at 7:27 AM

    Very nice ! well done thanks for visiting too!

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  16. Kathe W.November 14, 2011 at 8:40 AM

    and I was waiting for them to dance....poignant piece

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  17. ClaudiaNovember 14, 2011 at 9:08 AM

    you captured the waiting with such tenderness rick..i like..

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  18. hedgewitchNovember 14, 2011 at 9:57 AM

    Moody and strangely sensual for so few descriptive words..the scene is painted flawlessly, like a cinematic still. Thanks also for the Lyle Lovett, he's an old favorite of mine.

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  19. HelenNovember 14, 2011 at 10:56 AM

    You took the photo and wrote a most unique Magpie ... loved it!!!

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  20. Kathryn Stripling ByerNovember 14, 2011 at 11:15 AM

    This is really haunting, as my friend Vicki has described it. I've always felt a kinship with waitresses and remember times when other women in my life did not recognize that and treated them like....well, servants instead of sisters. My favorite waitress works at Lori's Diner in San Francisco.
    Thanks to you , maybe I'll try writing some waitress poems!

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  21. Susie ClevengerNovember 14, 2011 at 11:56 AM

    A lovely poem...I feel the sadness...the loneliness at Closing Time..nice how you added the reference to the songs

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  22. Carrie Van HornNovember 14, 2011 at 2:41 PM

    Such a lonely and romantic poem Rick....a wonderful take on the prompt!!!

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  23. AnonymousNovember 14, 2011 at 3:12 PM

    Ha ha ha! Nice unexpected ending. :)

    iamthat-shawna.blogspot.com

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  24. Dave KingNovember 15, 2011 at 12:58 AM

    The mood of the verse is a perfect fit for that of the prompt. Excellent.

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  25. AnonymousNovember 15, 2011 at 4:22 PM

    Loves musical magpies! Very "Efficient Agony" relieved with poetry in motion! chiccoreal

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  26. susan m hinckleyNovember 15, 2011 at 5:54 PM

    Nicely done. I love seeing all the different takes on a prompt, and I particularly liked this one.

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