I haven’t laid this cloth in a while

As I smooth down the creases

And straighten the edges

My eye catches stains left from previous feasts

And I think about the first time I used this table

I had no clue what I was doing

No linen atop, just bare wood

Oh how I tarnished the polish

By throwing everything out at once

And the legs appeared to be struggling

Under the enormous amount of pressure

However, I’ve had practice since then

I learned to use a tablecloth

And to ease in each dish

I learned you can’t force someone to sit with you

And you must eat alone sometimes

I learned that many people stop before getting too full

And leave the surface scattered in scraps

I wonder if one day I’ll get tired

Of setting places for and cleaning up after

People I can’t trust to stay or show up

As I smooth down the creases

And straighten the edges

I haven’t laid this cloth in a while

SWD 08/2019