Buy Me

Get out of the house
grandma and she did –

go get some
fresh air he added
some exercise too
OK OK
she went shopping.

Aimed her gaze down the street
blocked by a street light
aged eyes noticing,
struggled over a
crack in the sidewalk

ancient legs cautious
varicose veins
colouring the view.

Store sure looks different
from days ago she remarks
to no one in particular,
selects a small buggy
and works her way through the aisle

boldly stands in front of
sardines – momma made
me eat those she murmured
took a tin just for spite

a box of crackers good for
digestion, a loaf of bread – Bens
the kind she’d have to
hide from visitors – good
with raspberry jam.

She ducked and weaved for
half an hour between the hustle
of hungry customers,
a new boldness taking over her drive

finally at wit’s end
and shopping dollars spent
entered cashier’s lineup
someone trying to horn in
she shouts MY SPOT
no longer a novice in this game of shopping.

© Richard L. Provencher