poem of the day 11.23.15

grand opening

there is never a customer

in the liquor store when i pass

two months and they still have

the grand opening banners

going across their marquee

people in this neighborhood

maybe they don’t drink

i was in there once when it was under old management

the russian woman who owned it

sold bottom shelf vodka that tasted like water

so i never went back

they’ve got the place fancy now

this young asian couple

full shelves and wine tastings on the weekend

but they have no customers

save this one dark skinned chinese dude

who tried to steal from them

they have his picture taped to the window

with the word theft written at the bottom like an autograph

people in this neighborhood

maybe they need to steal more than drink

still i feel bad for them

i’m empathetic at odd and random moments

every day when i walk by

to go to the other liquor store closer to my home

i watch them sitting in there

two lonely people on their cell phones

trying to make something for themselves in this world

i wonder if they’ve noticed

that the grand opening signs are starting to fade?

well, yesterday i finally went in there

thought i’d be the good samaritan

and throw a little hard earned money their way

they really have improved the place

they don’t even sell that bottom shelf vodka anymore

they’ve got wines from france

with write-ups telling me they’re bold and juicy

with write-ups that make me want to believe

i grab a cab-heavy bottle and take it to the counter

try to hand it to one of the young entrepreneurs

but he waves me off

starts screaming at his wife who’s playing on her cell phone

she pulls the bottle out of my hand

rings it up like she wants to go twelve rounds with the register

slams the bottle on the counter

tosses my change like it’s infested

then goes back to playing on her cell phone

while he keeps shouting and i gather my things and leave

thinking, gee, i hope this wine tastes as good

as they made it sound

otherwise i might have to go back

to the place i usually go

where the guy doesn’t even acknowledge my existence

and he’s been around for at least eight years.