Jostle the Bags

Inventory

How gentle she is with the boxes of candy hearts,
as with one finger she deftly tips the front rack forward
and breathes in the talcummy oder of those behind
who eagerly whisper LOVER, KISS ME, and BE MINE
in sugary voices. They cannot see her free hand,
hidden below the shelf, which with unsentimental fingers
swiftly tallies their type and price and number
on a black machine that hangs from her neck on a strap.
Then, with no word of farewell, she moves away
and begins to tweak and pinch and jostle the bags
of chocolate kisses, to gently punch the gummy bears,
her hidden hand tapping the while. Then, without so much
as a wink of warning, she suddenly shoves her whole arm,
naked but for a friendship bracelet, into their rustle
and begins feeling around. I stick out my old man's chest,
throw back my pigeon shoulders, and tremble a little
as, unnoticed and uncounted, I push my cart past.

from Valentines: Poems
by Ted Kooser, former U.S. poet Laureate
winner of the Pulitzer Prize in Poetry

This season I am enjoying Kooser's book and heart-shaped images everywhere.
The big day is almost here.

Good night from Southern California.
Rosie (& Mr. Fun), aka Carol