Panic in the supermarket

POSTED IN contemporary poetry January 9, 2014

 

Panic in the supermarket
 
tendrils of fear
unfurl around me
 
among the shelves
crackers play dice
with my heart
 
there’s too little air
in the Spanish olives
unarmed
 
a purple aubergine
mocks me – “mala insana”
what madness is this?
 
my soul bared
there is nowhere to hide
layer upon layer of skin
unpeeled, stinging
insidious tears
 
pretzels hold out their arms
like children in prayer
 
I stare at my upturned palms
stained by the vine
 
and wonder why I am here.

 

 
 
 
 

Amanda Edwards