The Bags We Carry

There once was a man who
went grocery shopping once a week.
He would park his car in the lot
and head inside with his bags.
Up and down the aisles he went
grabbing all the food he wanted
while striking up conversations
with whomever would listen.
He paid for his items
put them in his bags
and loaded up the car.
This was his routine.

Proud

There once was a man who
went grocery shopping once a week.
On one fateful trip home
his car broke down.
So he walked there from his house
thirty minutes away.
Up and down the aisles he went
grabbing the food he needed
and greeting others with a smile.
He paid for his items
and put them in four bags.
This was his new routine.

Self-conscious

There once was a man who
went grocery shopping once a week.
On one fateful trip home
one bag ripped
and another got stuck
on his front gate.
So to the store he walked
thirty minutes away.
Up and down the aisles he went
and out the door.
One bag in each hand.
This was his new routine.

Embarrassed

There once was a man who
went grocery shopping once a week.
On one fateful trip home
a milk carton leaked
through one bag.
So to the store he ran
only twenty minutes away.
Up and down the aisles he went
a blur on surveillance.
He walked out with one bag
with less than he needed.
This was his new routine.

Ashamed

There once was a man who
went grocery shopping once a week.
A little boy saw him and asked his mother
“Why does that man only have one bag?”
She looked at the man and said to her son
“I don’t know.”
The little boy looked at her and asked
“Can we give him some of ours?”
His mother said they could.
The man thanked them with a smile
and started walking home.
This was his new routine.

Intrigued

There once was a man who
went grocery shopping once a week.
A little boy and his mother saw him again.
The little boy asked if they
could give him more bags.
Instead of responding to her son
the mother walked to the front of the store
and looked outside.
She turned to her son and said
“No more bags. There is a storm coming
we will invite him over for dinner.”
This was his new routine.

Hopeful

There once was a man who
went grocery shopping once a week.
He would park in the lot
and head inside with his
wife and son.
Up and down the aisles they went
striking up conversations
with whomever would listen.
They paid for their items
put them in bags
and drove home.
This was his favourite routine of all.

Happy