A "Quick" Visit To The Store Poem by dave lessard

Masked men and women
in our stores
looking at empty shelves -
standing six feet away
from one another,
grabbing the last jar
of peanut butter -
one loaf of bread and
a half gallon of chocolate milk.
It's their lunch -
even when they're dreaming of
filet mignon, yeah, right.
The express lane for
checking out is
backed up and we all
wait for the signal...
OPEN.
Machines and grocery store clerks
rule us as we wait with
bated breath.
Back at the car,
I rip the mask quickly
off my face and entangle it
in my hearing aid and I go deaf
instantly. Laugh softly, replace it
and look in the rear view mirror -
Yes, my face looks the same.
I back up cautiously and drive off.