day 14 of NaPoWriMO…The invitational prompt today is to write a ‘Persona poem’. That would be writing from another persons perspective. Getting into their mind/body and making observations from their point of view. For some reason, the first person that came up for me is a Grocery clerk; that check out person that notices everything that you buy, bags it up for you, sends you on your way. In a small town that check-out person would see you frequently, maybe have conversation with you. Maybe, notice an anomaly from your usual buying.
I tally and bag their party up
with potato chips, burger for the buns,
baked beans, and slaw for the
little army of fun in the backyard.
In the spread of mustard and ketchup
With a keg and a case of Coke
with plenty chatter, and remember
whens, and look how the kids have
grown, and lets get a game of golf in.
I tally and bag the busy up
with their frozen foods, and bottled
waters, the pre-made chill of a
life held to a race for this and that
and that and this as the time passes
in the head on freeze of nurturance
that forgets the smell of baked bread
and the words of a family at the
dinner table
I tally and bag her lonely up,
with old and single portions
with her Fred dead all these years
and the tins for the kitty
Words that cross and speak
in the up and down silence
in the passing of her time
and the White Zin to make the
night go deep in front of the TV.
I tally and bag the tins and frozen,
the fresh and lean. The scrub and
the wash, the wine and the beer,
yesterday’s gossip, tonight’s dinner
tomorrows hope, with the bouquet for
the lover and the aspirin for hangover
In this town I know exactly where
I’d have my dinner.
