pepper mill

the waiters
glide through
the room
with their pepper
mills, two feet
long and wooden.
pepper, they say,
politely pausing
at your table.
yes, okay then,
just tell me when
to stop. they seem
very pleased
about grinding
black pepper
onto your plate.
it's as if they
are sprinkling
happiness into your
life with each
twist of the mill.