her waitress tips

there was always

salt and pepper on the table.

butter

and bread

in a white stack

in the center of the table.

there was always milk,

cold

from the glass bottle.

there was always

just enough to go around,

seven pork chops,

a stew,

chicken, or spaghetti

from the wide

white bowl.

somehow, she made do,

with her waitress

tips,

counted out in the early

morning for each of us

before school.