Grocery Store Man

there I am,

looking for the Hawaiian rolls,

and there he is, leaning against the shelf,

cutting slices of an apple with his little knife.

there I am,

walking down the aisle with cake mix

and there he is, looming near the end,

cutting slices of an apple with his little knife.

there I am,

putting my groceries into bags at the register

and there he is, buying a pack of gum from

the check-out line,

cutting slices of an apple with his little knife.

I don’t look to see if he’s in the parking lot

until the car door is locked and engine started.