Long line 

characteristic of this 

big box store–

A lady with pitted prunes in her cart

First in line 

to get something adjusted,  

Married couple buying matching

Timepieces

Keep the receipts.

An older man who claims to know

exactly what he wants

And the young mama with the baby 

whose tiny, perfect 

ears will soon be pierced

and me–

Squandering time 

on overpriced trinkets

Entombed behind the

so-called jewelry counter.

We all wait so long

scanning synthesized treasures

cheap, yet still 

…overpriced

Discount baubles

draw the eye 

but for the sake of the sleeping child 

I make it quick,

buy the thin band

reminder of the old promise

Tell myself

Buy a boat, stow your things in

the gut,

sail into sunset.