The clerk and I
\nExchange pleasantries
\nAs she passes my groceries by the scanner;
\nTwenty years ago, in fact,
\nI taught her English composition,
\nWas a wonderful teacher
\nShe says \u2014 isn\u2019t it a terrible spring?
\nShe says she can remember
\nBlah blah blah yakkety yackety blooey . . .
\nMy celery, cat food, meat, fruit, bread,
\nDetergent, deodorant, dish detergent,
\nToilet paper, talcum powder, prunes,
\nPickles, flour, vitamins, ice cream, milk,
\nButter, juice, magazines, personal hygiene pads \u2014
\nAll range before her; now all are packed, tallied,
\nAnd I have paid, and I am
\nSorting my change
\nWith fingers that seem larger,
\nThicker than usual
\nTo put it into my green leather
\nChange purse
\nIt is a juggling act.<\/p>\n
She is quite jovial:
\nI have teased her as attractive
\nMid-thirties checkout clerks
\nLike to be teased:
\nWe are buddies:
\nEx-teacher and
\nEx-student.
\nThere is a mutual respect.<\/p>\n
Then I hear a sigh from
\nThe guy standing next in line.
\nI know why:
\nI have become one of those
\nOld guys I used to hate
\nStanding behind.<\/p>\n
Time has turned me into
\nA slow fumbling character
\nA bemusing being
\nSoon to be the guy
\nWho shaves on weekends,
\nWalks everywhere because
\nHe\u2019s afraid to lose his driver\u2019s licence.<\/p>\n
I look at the guy who sighed:
\nHe is in a hurry
\nSorry, I say,
\nI am getting addled,
\nBut spring is coming,
\nAnd the flowers will be just behind.<\/p>\n
He looks at his watch
\nAnd starts flirting with the checkout clerk
\nTeasing her as attractive
\nMid-thirties checkout clerks
\nLike to be teased.
\nShe blushes and touches her hair.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The clerk and I Exchange pleasantries As she passes my groceries by the scanner; Twenty years ago, in fact, I taught her English composition, Was a wonderful teacher She says \u2014 isn\u2019t it a terrible spring? She says she can … Continue reading