Mary Finnegan

Martini, Extra Dry

A good bartender lets you settle in,

Gives you a minute then asks, "How you been?"

He sees you’ve taken one, hard on the chin,

Shuts up and grabs the shaker, glass, and gin.

He knows enough to make it extra-dry,

And asks no questions so no need to lie.

You have good reasons why you sip and cry:

Cheers to a love that doesn’t have to die.

And then, his shift is done and some young gun

Comes in to take his place. Another one?

You shouldn’t, but. Oh, hell, you’ve come undone—

Seeing this kid who’s so much like your son.

This time, you say, straight vodka, no vermouth,

You’re here for rounds that rail right past the truth.

Mary R. Finnegan is a freelance writer and editor. Her poetry, essays, and stories can be found in Ekstasis, Lydwine Journal, American Journal of Nursing, Catholic Digest, Amethyst Review, Convivium, and elsewhere. She is the Social Media Editor at Dappled Things and Deputy Editor at Wiseblood Books. Mary is currently pursuing her MFA in Creative Writing at the University of St. Thomas in Houston.