the greeter

you get a job as a greeter
at a large chain store.
you wear a red vest
and stand near the front
as people come
through the doors.
after a while you
tire of saying hello
and smiling.
instead you begin to give
advice. quit smoking
you tell the woman with
a pack of camels in
her hand. your teeth are
brown, and you smell
bad. eat less, you tell
the big men who enter
chomping on sandwiches,
eating chips. your
heart is going to explode.
you yell at the little brats,
no running, you tell
them, no yelling, no
crying. if you do I'm
coming to get you.
hey you, you yell to
the teenagers staring
into their phones, ever
read a book?
hey lady, don't you
have a light on in
your house, or a mirror.
I can't believe you're
out walking around
in that dress.
by the end of the day
you have a black eye
and a broken nose. you
lose your job. honesty
is not the best policy.