I am not a professional poet

I’m not a reporter of today’s news

I see what I see,

and before I finish the telling

something else happens to me.

Today for example I was standing in line

praying that my turn would lead me

to the gentle pharmacist I know

would give me the right advice

about how to find the pills I need.

Instead I got the manager,

a tired blond who insisted there was none to be found

and I know that the Arab pharmacist

would lead me around the rules

to a solution.

I don’t know what to make

of that moment 

but I know it means a lot

and I had to tell you

before I fell asleep.