Next In Line

I finally stray away from my hood

For just a moment

In order to get some relief

In order to fool myself that life is good

I drive up to the grocery store eagerly

With hand sanitizer in tow

I exit my car and walk towards

The building full of anxiety cautiously

Interesting to see how norms shift so quickly

People of every hue adorn protective gear

But cannot hide their disgust since those foreigners did this

A pandemic shows people’s meager decency

Latex gloves make contact with this cart

I move through each aisle to grab what’s left

No time to be all fancy with the knife

How to make more with less is an art

From bountiful loaves to mere crumbs

Fascinating to see what’s left

What’s in abundance on every shelf

Our lives on the tips of our thumbs

My cart full of fruits and stress

I stand in line six feet apart

Though I feel miles away from sane

Our lives all under duress

These masks may hide our expressions

Each item in this cart is hope

I hope to see myself back at the store

Hopefully with new confessions

I lay hope on the conveyor belt

With each item scanned I breathe

I savor every breath nowadays