When we began to charge for the newly installed
Restrooms, people
started to line up.
With marble tiles,
ceramics ricocheting light,
With faces of pride
when they exit, they relate the tale
To friends,
and—there you go—one thing leads
To another. It's now the trendy thing to do.
Mesmerized by
flushing, the fast cascade of water
Suddenly turning
clean. A thing of beauty!
They’ll never use
the old latrines anymore.
You know, the holes
on the ground with webbed lights?
There's no chit-chat
because of plastic partitions.
It's a solemn
occasion, a sacred rite to perform.
They relish the
fluffy toilet paper, smooth
Liquid soap, and the
prescient hand dryers.
But I, of course,
have no problems with that.
I sell the tickets,
just like they do in carnivals
And National Day
galas. There are rules, but they’re
happy
To comply. No Spitting, because there are silvery spittoons.
I let them in
through entrance festooned with signs,
American words like
Hello, Fresh, Jordan,
With squeaky metal
turnstiles for added airs.
I love their
smiles. And look, the counter is past
A thousand
already. It's only an hour past noon.
But please excuse me
since my shift's over.
Today I'm taking
myself to a very special
Place to eat, to
celebrate. Absolutely
The best cuisine and
service around the world.
Have You Been There
Lately?