The Poetry of
Michael G. Khmelnitsky

 a boy working the cash register
 at the safeway
 screws up his pretty eyes

 the bananas won't scan
 so he calls over another boy
 to poke at the machine

 i scan his features  enumerating
 jeans shirtcollar glasses
 and the eyes they frame

 when finally it's my turn
 i fantasize about
 the bananas being free

(some small distraction
 from the letters on his nametag
 & his lips when he asks

 did you find everything alright?