clean up in aisle six

i've always

wanted to work at a grocery

store, but

just to make the announcements

over the speakers.

i'd like to say

in a very authoritative voice,

clean up in aisle six

just once before i die.

jimmy, drop whatever

it is you're not doing

and bring your mop,

and a squeegee. pronto.

a gallon jar

of dill pickles has fallen

off the shelf.

it would be fun

to inform the shoppers

that

grapes are on sale,

the green ones,

and that

the day-old bread

and pork

chops are half price

if you're a member.

calmly i could alert

the public that

there's a little kid at

the customer service

counter,

freckled face, 

red hair.

so if anyone lost a kid,

please come

to the front and claim

him if he's yours.

we caught him eating 

his way up

the candy aisle, row

seven..