Poetry: Shiny New Thing

bold and asymmetrical
she walks through red lights
thinking that is it -
living on the edge -
serving coffee to 20-year-old
CEOs of start-ups
cleaning the ocean
one takeaway espresso at a time

She grins at attempts at flirting
by either middle-aged washed up
cassanova’s or the odd 19-year-old
who believes her to be a child still too

it’s hard clearing dishes
and folding yesterday’s newspapers
while believing she could attempt
a pHd at her alma mater
and be the shiny new thing
in academia

a shiny new thing
like a designer heritage watch
she bought in summer markdowns
to feel more whole
or wholly aesthetically pleasing
as she crosses the road
catching the eye of a regular customer

who winks as if her being his
daily barista is enough cause
for and unwanted friendship
an insider feeling
so cool
so metropolitan of us

she flicks away expected tears
at the bus stop
some old lady with a shopping trolley
watching her
better than television this
fresh, new
what’s her deal?
this shiny young thing
what does she have to sulk about
all wasted youth and potential, arms
smeared with bitter coffee grounds

prosperous, attractive
peers with lesser educations
asking her what the filter of the week is
she says it’s Guatemalan, natural
loses the meaning of the word
trying her best to sound upbeat
happy to be here
lucky to serve you
inoffensive like the curated playlist
starting all over again
background music
rubbed matte, worn out