At Grubby Groceries Supermarket
written by: Joan McNerney
Mournful groups come
arriving in shrouded cars.
Their hair matted, their eyes
fountains of black ink.
Dressed in dingy thrift
shop clothes found at
bottom of old yellow vats.
Not even a weak smile
fills these worn faces.
Stepping over mud brown
cracked flooring, the meek
enter cold corridors with
dim lights and canned music
A cashier snarls “It is buy
one get one only on Tuesdays.”
The manager snaps at an old lady
saying that her carefully cut
coupons are all out of date.
Finally moans fill the air as
some wretched creature does not
have enough money for her cart.
Everyone becomes motionless
caught up in this drama.
Some items must be returned.
Should she let go of the peanut
butter or forfeit her saltines?
These decisions make her dizzy.
Finally enough groceries are
removed and this forlorn
customer leaves with a long
gray band of luckless shoppers.
A bloodshot sunset assaults
the sky while leaden air
covers an unforgiving night.
- At Grubby Groceries Supermarket - February 20, 2025
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