Facing Up

In retail this is called ‘facing up’,
to turn the products forward so
they can be eyed by customers.
The sergeant lined women like this,

like tins, tied rags around their eyes.
He knew his soldiers type well.
Stood them across from each other,
awkward as a row of blind dates.

Then they shoved a hand
on their woman’s waist, handled them
like a can on a supermarket shelf:
grabbed, slung down into a trolley.

I would like to prise their fingers back,
take the tin out of their hands, say:
Look at me. Is this what you thought of?
When your teacher said:
What do you want to do? Tell me.
Honestly. That you said: this.