last minute at wal-mart

do i dare go in,

do i take a chance

this time

of year

and enter the big store?

i look at my

list.

a twelve-pound bag

of organic mints,

a sack of

marshmallow peanuts,

orange.

a set of new

snow tires,

and a silky,

once worn dress.

a television. 

and

an enormous box

of rawhide

bones

for the pet.