For The Happy Housemaid... Poem by RIC BASTASA

early morning
the housemaid turns on the radio
in full volume that the
neighbors know that
she is already awake
and cooking breakfast

the house smells fried
egg and bacon and
steamed rice

when i come out my room
she smiles and
turns off the radio and
says that breakfast is
ready

only to be told that
no one likes to eat breakfast


(unlike the two the housemaid
likes it much to eat all these matters
alone by herself,
she is attuned like a loud radio
early morning
and she does not mind what
the housemaids' neighbors say)