Empty by Adrienne Baldwin

A clear glass sits
Centered on a table
Stuck to the laminate cover.

Its bottom empty,
Every drop evaporated.

All traces of sweat
From a cold sweetened drink,
Have dried.

No odor
Emanates from its opening.
No lipstick
Colors its rim.

The only evidence
Of humanity’s touch
Are smudged fingerprints
Staining its surface.

It goes unnoticed for days.
Ignored by the dishwasher.
Invisible to a cleaning hand,
And brushed aside for
More important tasks.

It can’t be lifted,
Moved
Or removed,
Not even gently,

For it has been
Still for so long
It has melded to its
Supporting surface.

And it sits
Clearly smudged,
Stuck.
While everything around it
Moves,

Ready to break.