Table six buys champagne he can barely afford Turns the label to the room like it made him a lord Clicks two fingers once and sends me cross the floor Ninety minutes playing rich means somebody plays poor Five stars or starve Move quick, stay sweet One bad little rating takes the hours from next week Five stars or starve Yes, sir, right away Everybody rents a throne Somebody has to wait Table nine wears couture Tiny clasp, a serious price Calls me darling twice Then sends the soup back thrice Says, “Smart girl, why waste your life like this?” “Honey, marry well,” like security’s a kiss Her handbag says exclusive My lipstick says comply For ninety minutes, I’m the rung that lets her stand up high Table three leaves fifty folded neatly with the check Number underneath it little promise, little threat He can’t tell good service from a come-on with a grin Can’t tell paid attention from an invitation in Then that little leer— meaning crystal clear— Maybe I’m the off-menu dessert he thinks he ordered here I should bin the number with the lipstick & the wine But Tuesday needs a shift & Friday isn’t mine Watch the app catch the hours take whatever drops Tawdry gets persuasive when the income stops Maybe he wants a girlfriend Maybe that’s the softer pitch Dinners, weekends, rent on time No scramble for a shift Maybe he is decent Maybe that’s the dangerous part Maybe I trade the scramble for a mortgage on my heart But nothing comes for free Tradwife Call girl Or true-crime podcast of the week My own door My own key That’s luxury to me Enough money in the bank to make “no” a guarantee No rescue No rating No man underwriting me Rain on brick Blue on black Sirens down the lane Three more drags Three more minutes Then paint a smile again Five stars or starve Move quick, stay sweet One bad little rating takes the hours from next week Inside, they rent importance by the bottle, by the chair I sell them my deference so somebody feels rare Five stars or starve Their high life needs me low Phone Shift available ACCEPT Table six needs ice
