calculations

every person,
a variable,
must
be stripped
of its value, assigned
instead
some vague descriptor--
say x,
then plugged
into society,
a formula.

.supermarket.spiders.

I like to wonder about couples in supermarkets and stores.
I like to wonder about couples that are together, and couples that simply share space.

"Can I help you?
or are you with them?"

As people flutter about searching for cereal and towels, dog food and bed sheets, I like to wonder about the paths that they wander. If we could tie a ball of yarn to everyone's ankles and see a web weave itself, with the strange spider of discontent sitting in the center.

"No, I'm just with them."

I like to look at the people looking for little flies and insects to keep themselves afloat with their daily lives: little buzzing gadgets and sheer gossamer sheets; feeding their public and private wanderings.

And just once, I happened to see
two strangers, with matching socks,
staring into a freezer display case
beyond the icy, glassy door
not at the frozen peanut butter and jelly sandwiches
but at their reflections
standing and staring
searching and grasping
for a quick fix to their hunger

"Are you with them?"
"No. Can I help you?"