Charlene Coates

the girl who hates to go shopping

the girl who hates to go shopping waits in another aisle
on nights after bad store days she dreams the
girl in the garden standing on her head again

all those tabloids and candy bars closing in on her
bat boy vampires flying around the world predicting armageddon
aliens running for congress sponsored by soda and cereal
pretty people and big boobs telling her who's fucking who
spoiling her appetite just when she needs to eat

little snickers from the chocolate next to her
whispering promises of empty calories and fatness

apples rolling down the conveyor belt waiting to get scanned
a pack of gum to chew on brief moments of freshness

no, for the last time, she isn't a preferred shopper,
she doesn't have a shoppers card
why should she tell people she doesn't know
which tampons she feels are the most absorbent?

and she was there so long,
pushing her cart with the wobbly wheel
past 40 kinds of ketchup
touting their nutritional value
pimping coupons for purple french fries
you can radiate for your children
when they come home from their
educational cafeteria vending machines

walls of soap promising her germ virginity
mountains of toilet paper ensuring wiping ectasy

and why she should take all that plastic home?
just to recycle with the kids
'cause that’s what she should do?

too many decisions
and most of them only matter on tv
she knows
most of the colors on the fruit
are chemical

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patriot passover

shop for your country
as they pass you over
wave the wal-mart flag
for all those jonses to see
wipe your dirty hands on the
flag the ralph lauren terrycloth
flag which proudly hangs wrinked
absorbing your damp dirt
hang it proudly next to the toilet
with the stars and the tag
in view that label means that
you are scanned and
accepted for the retail value

*****************************

once a waitress

you were a waitress once
wrapped and tied in their apron
protecting you from condiments
eating breadsticks standing up
dipping down in dressings
of france italy a ranch and a
whole lot of islands orange and lumpy
but you don't know where they are on the map

you were a waitress once
wrapped and warm in his jacket
protecting you from compliments
disguising ass slaps
in the deep trenches of ignorance
are the sports bars those
couch athletes fill their bellys
beer bandages their wounds
the dishwasher gives you his
jacket to keep you clean

you were a waitress once
wrapped and safe in your robe
protecting even from condoms
alone on your comforter
double island bed
desk lamp setting over the horizon
counting your tips
your suggestions advice and change