Look with your eyes, not your hands
My mother said in gift shops, antique stores, the five and dime
Now, in my mask and gloves, I peer at
Avocados and apples, grapefruit and lemons
Using my eyes to discern
Firmness, ripeness, compatibility
Wondering if the underside of the apple holds a bruise,
If the grapefruit will be more rind than flesh
Touching is a commitment—
You are now mine, for better or for worse
The worst part of my day, on the days I run errands, is in the morning when I’m standing in the grocery store watching the clerk ring up my purchases and she asks, “What are you going to do today?” A part of me finds that question an invasion of my privacy, while at the same time I realize she is making small talk. Another part of me is curious—what am I going to do today? My mind scrambles about for my own benefit as well as a polite answer.
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