I got to the grocery store and was impatient,
line building behind me, Sunday night and cart full of groceries,
no bagger, he went home, meaning the cashier would have to bag the groceries
too, which will slow up the line.
the line didn’t have any movement, as still as the sky
this made me uncomfortable as it made others uncomfortable,
but people started chatting with each other, and I just picked up
a can of beans in my grocery cart and read the ingredients
I felt as uncomfortable as a traffic jam, almost unbearable to me
and the clerk’s voice was so calm, with no hint of frustration, or anger, or impatience,
and I haven’t seen anything like that in while, as he asked, “how I was feeling?”
I kinda snapped when i said, “just wish you had a bagger.”
with impatience and anger i was trying to temper, yet couldn’t quite do this.
I put the card in the machine, it holds and releases,
he gives me a receipt of the stuff I had bought,
his face is still so calm, I admire that
“have a good night I say.”
realizing my foolishness
