Misplaced Correction: A Savvy Poem

{Written out of respect for the best charity Shop Assistant in town – who gives his time and his smiles freely.}

It’s a charity shop –
helps people in need.

And yet,
he stands, with needs,
chided,
corrected.

‘Look!’ she scolds.
‘Four pounds down!
You should have listened!’

I listen, and I see.

As she turns her back,
cold-shoulder,
he stands,
smiling,
polite –
eager.

Books chosen, I queue
to pay.

As he stands and
serves me,
she turns
to me.

‘Sorry,’ she says.
‘Sorry, for the wait.
It’s been one of those
mornings.’

Her shoulder still
turned
away
from him.

Card swiped, I
contemplate.

Books chosen,
placed, paid for in
all
of
seconds.

It’s a perfect morning,
I wish
I had said.

Correctly
and correcting
her.

Copyright owned by Jay Cool, October 2018

Image by Amanda Randolph from Pixabay