Have You Seen Billy Lately? Aug. 7, 2026

I liked to watch him in his

waiter white’s, resting on a

wooden chair by the kitchen

or wringing his hands, gleaning

the movements of staff and patrons,

towel slung over a shoulder.

God knows all the jobs he once

performed at his sixty-year-old restaurant,

now reduced to swing man, simple gopher,

ready to help where needed.

I did hear that Billy Reed’s sold,

so perhaps he retired, and I try to imagine

a lazy Billy, waking up late, splashing water

on his face, shuffling to the kitchen for

coffee, then a long shower before opening

the closet to dress himself.

I wonder if anyone can slow down after

a lifetime of fires, both kitchen and

hot-tempered, and the constant stress

to quickly fill endless demands

Do you think

he’ll ever wear white again?