Friday, September 2, 2016

Write a poem that is a letter addressed to a stranger.

Dear Foodlion clerk,

Once a week
Sometimes more
We meet at the cash register 
At the Grocery store.

"How are you?"
"Paper? Plastic?"
Is there any way you could
Be less enthusiastic?

I try to start a conversation
"Yes, Ma'am" 
You reply, and I suddenly
Feel older than Birmingham.

You take my coupons
You fill my bags
With soulless, hopeless eyes 
Waving a silent white flag.

"Have a nice day," you say 
But you aren't talking to me
You are on autopilot
Your eyes don't see.

I want to connect
I want to say,
"Your life can't be that bad
There will come a brighter day."

But I say instead,
"You too."
And I fall back into my own life
Until next week when I see you.


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