An Old Man Shops

A Poem

Below is a poem I wrote in 2021 and plan to include in “Meanderings,” my forthcoming collection of poems.

You’ve all seen him before
at the big box store
where you can buy everything
from A to Z and then some

He always has the shopping cart
with the wobbly left front wheel
if you don’t see him coming
you can hear the cart squeak while it wobbles

You then see him push his cart
down one aisle and up the next
stopping hesitantly from time to time
to check his wife’s handwritten list

He lifts his “cheaters” to his eyes
squinting, looks down at the list
then looks around searching
before scratching head and moving on

Depending on the list’s length
he may make a men’s room detour
before he proceeds to checkout
“Almost done,” he thinks to himself

You notice the spring in his step
as he leaves the store for his car
to drive the short miles home —
and dream of his afternoon nap.