I came in for one ordinary thing The basket disagrees with my arm A trolley wheel performs a small complaint Exactly half a second after calm The melons hold a meeting without minutes Nine green heads and not one useful vote The freezer breathes an arctic little weather On fish fingers wearing winter coats My list says milk in handwriting I know Today it reads like terms and conditions The price tag has a decimal, a star And something close to legal opposition Beep — not that Beep — put it back Beep — one small thing And the aisle keeps adding distance One wheel left, three wheels forward Very modern, very brave I match its limp for seven seconds Then my knees refuse the craze Cold light files me under miscellaneous Cereal smiles at maximum width A pyramid of tins looks self-important I give it space to finish posing The loudspeaker divides a friendly sentence Into pieces no one has to mean Meanwhile every wrapper in the building Tries to solo in sixteen Beep — too bright Beep — hold on tight One small thing— The missing click is somehow louder I set the jar down Pick the jar up Set the jar down My hand has made a strong committee It has reached no finding yet The basket cuts a red opinion In the soft part of my grip Blue vapor folds across my shoes I stand still enough to hear it move No revelation in the frozen peas Just cold, and weight, and fluorescent seas Beep — not done Beep — not gone Beep — one small thing Still the aisle keeps adding distance I don't make the distance smaller I carry the basket one floor tile farther The list stays open in my hand.
