Velvet Shift

Velvet dress and cherry lips

She walks the floor with practiced hips

Glass in hand, a nod, a smile

This place becomes her stage awhile

She’s working through the midnight shift

Serving charm, a silent gift

No one knows what she won’t say

Just pours the drinks and fades away

Trumpet cries from corner stage

Saxophone sighs like turning page

She hums along, not really there

Her lipstick hiding every care

The lights go low, the crowd thins out

She wipes a table, hides her doubt

“See you tomorrow,” someone calls

She nods, then walks down shadowed halls

She’s working through the midnight shift

Her name unknown, her smile swift

But behind each glass she clears away

A piece of her decides to stay