old age looting

inspired by the news

and lack of law enforcement,

i call my friend Betty

and tell her,

let's go shopping. 

but my social security check

hasn't come yet, she says

i laugh, forget about that.

i'll pick you up

in ten minutes.

so we put

on our hoodies,

our covid masks,

grab a hammer or two

and set out

to the local mall in my van.

Betty calls up her

knitting club

and face yoga class to join us,

advising them

on what to wear.

sketchers will help

you keep your balance

when it's time to skedaddle,

or ortho shoes.

her friend Sally wants to

go too,

but she's in a wheelchair

and can't roll away

fast enough once

the smash and grab begins.

she requests some canned cat

food for her cats

and a bottle of witch hazel,

whatever that is.

we start off at the vitamin

store,

stuffing ginkgo bilboa and saw palmetto

into our jackets.

sleeping pills

and ex-lax.

someone grabs a case of Ensure.

we work our way over

to the heating

pads,

and Depends.

i wipe the shelf clean of hearing

aids,

and wrinkle cream,

then grab a box of Tums,

and a new magnifying glass.

Betty gets a case

of prune juice.

then we limp out of there

before the po po comes.