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Early Morning Deli

Early Morning Deli

So, I’m standing in the early morning deli line.
Waiting for my sliced turkey and cheese.
One old man behind me and another old lady behind the counter.
She’s slicing up something and doesn’t even know we are there.
I roll my eyes and wait.

He strikes up a conversation about turkey.
Just what I need!
He tells me he has been married for 58 years.
His wife is home with her nurse. 
She’s had MS for 45 years now.
She likes this special turkey with a slice of ham.
Her favorite lunch. He enjoys going out to buy it.

We’re still waiting and I ask why a store would hire
such an unobservant helper.
He says she’s really a very nice person if you get to know her.
I’m thinking about him, his wife and the deli lady.
She finally notices us.

I order his recommended turkey for my daughter.
She’s coming to visit.
As I’m about to leave he taps me on the shoulder.
“Have a nice day”
And you know what?
I do.

Copyright © Richard Jordan | Year Posted 2015

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Daver Austin Date: 12/14/2016 11:18:00 AM I like this no-hasty-judgments poem. It happens so often. Congrats on the selection. Love, daver Login to Reply Richard Jordan Date: 12/14/2016 3:05:00 PM Daver, thanks for the visit and comment. The night before I wrote this I was reading "Loading a Boar" by David Lee. The next morning was the "Deli" experience, and I thought to try a simple narrative to capture it. Not up to Lee standards but that's how we learn. I appreciate your visits.