Short Checkout Poems

THAT’S ALL FOLKS

two minutes late,

meeting’s running

over checkout time

5/13/2019...

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The pure joy of buying
hummus on sale,
watching the green numbers
shrink on the checkout screen -
saving thirty cents

what could be more
important than this?...

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Grandpa gets up to change the channels
Grandma has a rotary phone
Microwaves scare them to bits
Garage door openers
ATM machines
Self-checkout lines
Computers
Cell phones
Not!...

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I was standing in the checkout line,
And man! She was looking oh so fine,
so I checked her up and down,
but then given a big frown...
that wedding ring was her tell-tale sign.


02/20/2016...

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at the grocery store
time  moves slow
as the self-checkout line.

at the register a mother
digs  for change in her
pink purse. her daughter
laughs as she slices
a purple grape in half
with two new front teeth....

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long lines at food mart

I move to the self checkout-

wait for assistance


Sandra M. Haight

~4th Place~
Contest: Writing Challenge 5, May 2019, Senryu
Sponsor: Dear Heart
Judged: 06/09/2019
...

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We bought the get-up
at the local thrift store.
 
I elected to dress like a cop,
much to the amusement
of the female Dollar Store employees
who whistled and made comments
about me being a stripper,
 when we came through
the checkout line....

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When you're at the checkout counter
And you hear the beep
It won't be Dale having fun
On Supermarket Sweep

Dale's with the angels now
I hope they like his style
And let him have a trolley
And go wild in the aisle

© Gail Foster 19th April 2018...

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In a supermarket, phrases like “nice cans” or “nice melons”
Sound innocent unless a well endowed philly nearby threatens 
Then head for the checkout
Avoiding a crime scene headcount
Run like a gazelle, she'll be on your cart in seconds...

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A poor old man
	on tottering cane
in checkout line
	did stand

did watch the checker
	young and fair
be amused at
	the young men

as they gathered
	about her there
drawn by her
	sweet charms

he did think
	of younger days
when he would
	be there too...

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I shop at the co-op every day,
See the karma millionare not give a care,
See Mr Jones a pillar of fire,
See the checkout supervisor touch every hand,
See the damned see the damned,
See the old hag have a drag,
See the gentleman being dargged down,
See the gnome all at home,
And see the man who knows he's alone....

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A gang of vandals unlocked all the cages 
And in the supermarket near the zoo
The beasts rushed in but not to spend their wages
For animals are not inclined to queue

With savage creatures charging all about
The poor old keeper almost flipped his lid
When tigers chased a zebra through the checkout 
And the barcode scanner charged him sixty quid...

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Jewel Food Stores - Illinois



 Looking at that roast in the cart
 I savor its taste even now.
 Yet never thinking that for my part
 When I will cook it...or even how.


 But I take it to the checkout lane
 With all the other items that day.
 Finally having to leave it...to looks of disdain
 I didn't bring enough cash with me...all to my dismay....

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I think that I will never see
A rule unbroken; disagree?

Traffic laws, command for games;
Making false insurance claims.

Ten commandments, trespass signs;
People cutting checkout lines.

Litterers and all molesters;
Scammers cheating lame investors.

Those who simply won’t comply;
Laws for them just don’t apply.

Rule creators can’t persuade
Some that rules should be obeyed....

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I love to get an early start
When all the world’s in bed,
So roads where traffic plagues me
Will have empty lanes instead.

I’ll get to stores just opening
And saunter through the aisles.
The checkout folk, not grumpy yet,
Will ring me up with smiles.

My chores complete, I’ll have the day
Where hours still await.
I’d better wrap this poem before
My early start is late!...

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No I'm not dying
Been sitting in a motel
Writing poetry 
Until asleep I finally fell

You checkin at dark
Giving money for a bed
Checkout at 10am
Is what the sign said

In the shower
Then out the door
Leaving beautiful California
When I get home, I'll write more

I'm stopping to pick blackberries
I may be a while
Stained finger tips
With a full belly...worth every mile...

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Sarah Shopper!
Coupon please budget-y listen
and bankruptcy understand

That ATM Terminator is out there — 
It can’t be mall bargained with,
nor consumer reasoned with

An Automated Teller Machine 
doesn’t feel purse pity,
or cancelled check remorse
Or insolvency fear

And it absolutely 
will not cash register stop,
checkout ever!
Until you are empty pocket dead...

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I see your face in strangers
And my heart stops every time
I thought that was you holding her hand
In the grocery store checkout line
And I know I can't be mad
That you've moved on to someone new
But I hope she's really ugly
And isn't nice to you
I don't think I can hate someone
Who I used to think I loved
But I'm starting to resent you
For making me feel like I'm not 
Enough...

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Today I brought a card and a red satin ribbon.

Upon checkout I looked around in case I saw anything else that might

brighten your day.

I told myself that when I saw you.

That I would give you the card first.

And if that didn't work.

Then, and only then would I take the red ribbon, tie it around my head.

And do the first silly thing that comes to mind.

Just because...

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SJGNAL EVENT BETWEEN MAN AND WOMAN


The eyes have it
As the trolley slews  past the bread display
At first glance it may  be accidental
Testing  it at the delicatessen
Inconclusive but  cautiously  implying
Trying again in  the  frozen section
Melting eyes again, as hoped for
Now for the checkout wait
Wait  while the change is registered
There  the  final  gaze must be long
It must belong to me alone....

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Scandals are delicious to us
Celebrities are fair fodder
How thrilling to hear the details of the divorce
Anothers misfortune sadly gives us a certain joy
Devilish felings of smuggness
Eventually we all feel it
No sense denying it
From the scandal sheets to your smile
Reading the headlines at the checkout
Enjoying the gossip
Uncharitable phsycological state
Drama draws un in like flies to honey
Envy is at the root...

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standing in line
at the local grocery store. 

I stood there watching people
sighing impatiently and tapping their toes
while typing on their phones. 

I was next, elderly lady ahead 
was paying by check. 

I saw her tremble
as her fragile fingers penned
away her social security check. 

I reached over, held her hand. 

said my dear friend,
"this checks on me."

an experience never observed
in "self checkout."...

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The slimy backend of the American Dream
Coming to a screeching halt on an anonymous highway

The AC Press horrendously portrays the days events
Why do people read this discharge?
Isnt the same reason celebrity disaster magazines
Line every shelf of the checkout at the grocery?

This newspaper is the equivalent
Of a chain smoking, saggy faced
Ex waitress
With her uterus removed
Playing the lotto
And heading to Atlantic City
To get emulsified with alcohol...

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It was a long line
as I queued to make my purchase;
just one item for the checkout.
All were getting frustrated,
showing signs.

As the old lady at the front
searched her purse
for the right change
the contents spilled,
rolled across the floor
in all directions.

We put down our baskets
to help with the gathering.

For each of us 
such a smile,
showing a sign
of gratitude, 
quelling frustration:
made us feel as one,
waiting in line....

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If you want Christmas before Halloween, just go to the stores.
In Walmart you will find Christmas trees by the scores.
Why do we need Christmas in the Fall?
In October it is already Christmas at the mall!

By Christmas time we are all burned out,
Seeing decorations months in advance at the checkout.
I wish they would wait at least until November.
But it is the almighty dollar the retailers remember.






10/9/17
Rhyme Battle IX contest
Juli-Michelle sponsor...

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