[Stylist] a poem

[ckuell at comcast.net]

Hey Annie,

 

I really like this poem, as it's almost a flash fiction piece, telling a
story in so few words. Thanks for sharing.

 

Chris

 

 

From: Stylist <stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Ann Chiappetta via
Stylist
Sent: Thursday, January 5, 2023 1:34 PM
To: 'Writers' Division Mailing List' <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Ann Chiappetta <anniecms64 at gmail.com>
Subject: [Stylist] a poem

 

To the Young Second Lieutenant Standing Behind Me in Line

Rob Greene

 

at the Keesler AFB Post Exchange in 1987 (Biloxi, Mississippi)

No one looked after me or my brother back then, no CPS, 

no Social Workers, the SP's couldn't be trusted,

the off-base cops even worse.

 

When the P-EX mini-mart clerk told me

I wasn't supposed to be there

and had to leave my Pork & Beans

 

and bread on the counter, you caught up to me in the parking lot,

my items in your tote bag.

I got caught stealing a sleeved stick of butter

 

the week prior, but today had returned

with the Susan B. Anthony dollar coin I found in the gutter.

All I had was that and my pocketknife for opening cans and gutting fish,

 

the reason my privileges were revoked.

I wish I had answered your questions-What's going on?

Why can't you shop here? Where are your parents?

 

before darting off into the night with the can and bread,

dropping the piece of money at your feet.

 

Copyright C 2023 by Rob Greene. Originally published in Poem-a-Day on
January 5, 2023, by the Academy of American Poets.

 

Rob Greene

Rob Greene is the founder of the Raleigh Review and an assistant professor
at Saint Augustine's University. He lives in North Carolina.

 

Ann M. Chiappetta, M.S.

Making Meaningful ConnectionsThrough Media 

914.393.6605 USA

Anniecms64 at gmail.com <mailto:Anniecms64 at gmail.com> 

All things Annie: www.annchiappetta.com <http://www.annchiappetta.com>  

 

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