the bartender

the bartender gets more patients

than any shrink could ever dream of &

the ability to stay with them through bouts of

loneliness, guilt, extreme sadnesses & self-destruction,

make her/him more worthy of an APA award at the very least---

the bartender is a legal dealer

who supplies the addicted with their drug of choice

but who also holds the power to cut them off &

throw them out---

a curious position to be in,

her/his own problems must be left at the door or

behind the counter,

strolling in round 4 pm for another night until the wee hours

being the biggest, lowest priced

listening ear in the city.

 

bartenders have a thousand reasons for doing what they do,

for ending up where they are or

for using bartending as a venue to something else,

always quoting like waiters & waitresses in NYC,

“this is just what i do for money,”

insisting to the onlooker that there is a light at the end of

the tunnel---

but the bartender takes it all home,

much like a shrink, again,

they know all the stories &

instead of seeing people get better,

they see them get worse---

some may even get the opportunity to see someone drink themselves to death &

how that sits with the bartender

is only the business of the bartender---

at the end of the day,

if you work at a joint with live music,

ya get to hear some good stuff for free (along with the bad) &

if you work at a place with live comedy,

sometimes you can get free laughs throughout the evening---

if you’re lucky.