the waiter

The Waiter

A man with no teeth served me breakfast
he began to smile, but thought better of
it, his lips disappeared into his mouth;
his eyelids fluttered though, as blinking
away tears. had lost his teeth when out
diving in the lake, near the hotel, silt had
made it impossible to find his dentures
Now he had to work double shift to save
up and pay for a new set; he could have
sold his car to pay for them, but to be seen
on a bus, now at forty, people would think
he was a loser. Just you wait, smirking
guests with perfect dentures, soon he’ll be
able to dazzle you with his mighty grin.