He began
by taking the beverage order
a usual day
just another table.

The course of repetition
was suddenly broken
by a momentary happenstance
and as he continued

by describing the offerings
a subtle then harsh poke
disrupted his information
with an informing

perhaps all waiters dread:
The owner of said
poking digit
was in the company of choking.

So calmly he turned around
performed a maneuver
for the crowd
and with the same swiftness

of response to the situation
he modestly accepted
the roaring claps
the cheers of exhale

and turned back
just another table
just another day
saving a life, waiting on tables.

10/17/2008

Author's Note: I am not that "he." I work with him and this happened a couple months ago. I was a witness to this course of events and couldn't help but tell him that if I just saved some guy's life I would have run laps around the restaurant with all the adrenaline I am sure my body would have had flowing. His level of calm is still unnerving.

Posted on 10/17/2008
Copyright © 2025 Jeffrey Parren