I, Dishwasher

I’m a dishwasher

Being in college I must pay the rent

Look real mature, that’s what she said

Well, I tried to smile

It wasn’t enough

So I smiled at the thought

And counted my dishes two by two

 

I’m a dishwasher - I can’t perform miracles

I’m a dishwasher - I can’t practice medicine

I’m new here - she laughed over the phone at him

Told him she was pregnant - Again

What a thing to tell a scullion

 

My head hurts, my hands are dry from dish water

All to make a dollar that keeps this rat still floating

When I try to smile

My face cracks too

After a hard day's work

The towels are dirty done and through

 

I’m dishwater

I’m enough for the drain

Sunk down the sink and flowing out to Spain

The water flows mainly there on the plain

-Or so I’ve been told

Reviews

[Azure Montessa (Blue)]

Unique and interesting poem! You ended it very well, too. :)

[Dye]

Great view of what's going on. I like the "My Fair Lady" ending.

[gombeggar]

nice u picked upon that ;)

[Geon Quuin]

As a poem, Me liked it a lot. Me thinks that being a dishwasher is one of the most unappreciated job in the restaurant industry. Without them dishwashers, chefs and cooks won't have nothing to put their awesomely delicious, or tragically crappy, foods and dishes. It's a very vital and important part of the whole restaurant system. Did I mentioned that Me liked it a lot? I think I did. Loves ya - Geon

[gombeggar]

thanks much

[Ees]

Great poem. Dishwasher- about the worst job there is. I've never been employed as a dishwasher, but I've filled in a restaurants that I have worked. Uggg, awful, but useful when you need a job. You captured that so very well in this poem! And the end- it's just magic, thoughts drifting to more pleasant shores the way that you'd have to do it as you wash dishes in industrial stainless steel, deep sinks. The brain has to drift a bit in jobs like that, or else it dies I think.

[gombeggar]

;) u certainly have done the job to know enuff

[Ees]

A few times in hot, steamy summer nights at the bar up on the river that has no air and the only inside room is in fact the concrete and stainless steel room that houses the large sink and the prep tables.
It's been years, but I won't forget the feeling or how wet I was the first time I did it in my (by then) see through white tennis skirt that I thought I ought to wear to work. lol. I was 15.
Great writing, dude!

[gombeggar]

thanks much, girl...let's keep up with each others work here ;)

[Ees]

I'll try to! I have been having trouble keeping up with everybody lately!

[gombeggar]

all good things in thyme,girl ;)

[Bowers]

wow, that was a great poem. so many people must feel this way, and you've voiced those thoughts perfectly. nicely done! :)

[gombeggar]

nothing's perfect...but thank u much :)

[Coyote Poetry]

Good flow of thoughts in the entertaining poem. I was a dishwasher once. Like you said in the poem. Need money to eat and live. Thank you for the excellent poetry.
Coyote

[gombeggar]

thanks much

[Zahra]

Very interesting write, loved the way it goes from start to ending. thanks for sharing.

[gombeggar]

very welcome

[Samuel Dickens]

The seriousness of the poem lightened up with those last words, which I found a little humorous. Very well done.

[gombeggar]

thanks