Waiter

He caught her eyes over her cup
as from her he took
her plate
and the light desert menu.

He remembered that, once,
he had loved her
and was shocked to see
how badly time had abused her.

He began to say
that beauty melts like ice cream,
but caught himself,
so reached only to scrape up the crumbs.

She did not look up
as she stood and reached for her coat.
For a tip she threw
her dirty napkin on the table.

It was stained with blood.