SHOPPING FOR BARNACLES

she’s got some lovely barnacles

loving lovely love 

on her on her on her

but she also likes to escape 

from time to time

occasionally slips away into the mundane

grabbing a sweet soy-milky drink

no caffeine for this runaway mind

taking it slow

smoothly swerving around the aisles

pausing too long at the discount shelves

thinking too long about her barnacles 

what might light their faces

wide toothy smiles

the long way around

sipping her lavender drink

that he offered to remake, but it’s fine

it’s all fine

the cashier liked her eyelashes

which made her whole day

or week even 

the groceries are bagged in plastic

because she forgot again

dumping the plastic onto her 

well-meaning cloth bags

next time, she lies to herself

and the vacation comes to an end

as she’s thrust into parking lot competitions

of everyone rushing to get home

to their own lovely barnacles