Pulling Pints

As I pull pints
The people lick their lips in thirsty anticipation
And the old man at the end of the bar
Waits to catch my eye
And when he does
He lifts his glass with a nod
Then strokes his dog
With gentle words that only the hound can hear

As I pull pints
I watch with mild interest
The lady and her lover
She flutters her eyelids and sways her hips
And he asks for two halves
While looking at her
And does not acknowledge me
Until I ask for some money

As I pull pints
I gasp for air
And from behind the smoky bar I see a group of teenagers
They ask for vodka
I ask for ID
They have none and leave
I know they are too young
They are friends of my sister

As I pull pints
A cheer goes up
Our team has won the darts
And they all tumble to the bar
Asking for 'the same'
But I struggle to remember
I share their lives for one brief moment
An observer am I

And I like it.