Saturday at the Grocery

A pristine sky with no wide strokes of white to break
the boundless spill of azure cloaks my drive
a man with a dog ties the lead to a bike rack
reminding me of Rachel and I think
I should have walked the two miles
with only two light sacks for the return trip
supplies for a science experiment, crystals to grow
in salt water - kosher, table, and coarse sea
plus bell pepper and two heads of garlic for the dinner pot
two miles, two sacks, two heads, too easy to slide
behind the wheel
but no means of enjoying the scarlet dress of maples
and golden oaks readying themselves for the dance
or twittering senryu to those who would read
sitting instead in the parking lot to text myself
free form verse of missed opportunity
and a half pound of coffee bought on sale.