While packing groceries into car, a receipt blew underfoot

The Receipt

While packing groceries into car

Underneath a security lamp

I wouldn’t have bent down

Without noticing the scrawl

A desperate wide-eyed receipt

Blowing crumpled underfoot

Along the asphalt ice

In the parking lot of winter

A sorry scribbled line of who

And two of reminisce

Penned curves of a woman

Erratic slants undotted i’s

I note the purchase

Two lines printed calmly

Same price.  Pharmacy

Thank you for your patronage

My grocery bags loaded

Behind the wheel of an investigation

Does one retain this receipt

Or let it blow?

Does one search a parking lot

Random cars for one in tears

Or a napper?  Wondering what if

I start my engine

Sometimes, even so

We start our engines

In parking lots, accelerate

And let it blow