Lucky Afternoon.
Saw her in the fruit section.
Pomegranates. Sweet Basil. Fresh
Onion skins
peeling. I remember. When sumthin’s
not benefittin’ me directly.
that Sweater (oh. Lord, bless that sweater.)
rubbin’ on some
body. (Man, I could never figure out
why
they don’t sell them plastic
yellow
lemons with the crazy label
hooked on like a tie
shaped like a perverted Gemini sign.
They would squeeze and the juice
would come out of one end. The end
with the clever cap. screw, imitating a
bloated stem. They don’t sell ’em at
all.
or what. only plastic limes
a little smaller, and green.
Man. I had no plan. Wow!
She was pickin’ over somethin’. I
can’t remember
Oh. man.
I didn’t know what to buy.
for
dinner.
Fruit?
Cereals?
Greens?
Dairy Products?
The Fearsome Five.
and I hadn’t even thought about the
Ninth ———
Symphony
at that
point
Forgot all about her. except
some quick glances a few
aisles
over.
Forgot about her.
Turn the corner. Frozen meats
pig snoots
cow tongues
Wha?
and
imported cheese and
things
like that. cold.
Man! Beethoven
Later, I thought as I
walked
home. The worn brass
buttons, warm on the
placebo
pedestrian pacifier
walk. way
(If you wish to cross
Press Button)
annular ring with those
small
finger tip
sized, (oh. Man)!
I forgot all I ever knew about cheeses.
carefully gathered in trips abroad.
no cheese in South America.
I forgot.
oh. That Sweater, (oh warm).
Oh. lordey. at the prime rib. Symphony.
and chickens. Lying in mute witness
not as closely as
my eye. (oh, man!).
Soaring to classic rhythm.
Ha! stretch to get the spreadable
cream-cheese. Philadelphia style.
Went straight for the M and M’s.
after that
paid in exact change. 11.63. with twenty
one. sixty three.
two fives
back.
two. and cute, perky, too.
and the Cross Walk Button
still ahead.
What does one ask for!? What does?
one ask for. The Ninth.
Beethoven and the Ninth. at the crosswalk