spur of the moment poem #1

the woman ahead of me in the
checkout line paid for her groceries
in quarters the cashier made many
little stacks and checked them again
and again to be sure there were four
in each the woman was more defiant
than embarrassed my cheerful remark
was probably out of line looks like you
robbed your piggy bank she said to me
you’ll be here some day my reply was
I already have

This article appears in Jun 19-25, 2014.