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Anonymous at the Grocery Store
by Madeline PestolesiI want to be
Anonymous at the grocery store.
But today
The strangers wouldn't let me.
All I wanted
Was an onion
And some salsa.
But it all went wrong at the checkout stand.
"Is that salsa good?"
Asked the man,
Who's scantily clad girlfriend
I had been judging only moments before.
I told him I didn't know,
I was picking it up for a friend.
(Which is actually true.)
Silence again...
Until the bagger in the checkout next to mine pointed
"Look, it's a skirt made out of old jeans! That's what I was telling you about! Did you make it?"
Yes, I mumbled.
She smiled and said
"You did a good job."
But it frustrated me.
Which is stupid
Because everyone was so nice.
I have always wanted to stand on the moving belt
That brings the groceries to the cashier
And I would try to moon-walk
And use it as a tredmil.
And while I was up there
Taking a stroll,
I would yell at my interrogators
"What's up, eh? What is this, 20 questions? Get off my back!"
And I would stare at their dumbfounded faces for a moment,
Jump down,
And calmly walk away.
07/01/2003 Posted on 06/30/2003
Copyright © 2025 Madeline Pestolesi
| Member Comments on this Poem |
| Posted by Max Bouillet on 07/01/03 at 04:04 PM Very deep with alot of social commentary. Thanks for sharing. |
| Posted by Agnes Eva on 07/02/03 at 06:34 PM haha! great slice of modernity and the individual self trying to remain anonymous in the crowd. it's so honest, and funny, and detailed. a great read |
| Posted by J. P. Davies on 11/05/03 at 06:07 PM I work in a grocery store the thing is that for every hundred customers that come into the store at least 10 start a conversation with me and it usually has to do with my job...its bad enough that I have to work this job I don't want to talk about it!! |
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