shopping cart family

 

the shopping cart family wheels by each day

an assortment of children, most fitting in the cart

they have no car, walking to the grocery store

 

faded mismatched clothes and unkempt hair

he is always with her, unlike most couples

where food shopping is woman’s work

 

they have food stamps with little extra

no surprises for the kids at the checkout

beer for him coming from bottle money collected

 

they pay no rent, car insurance, medical bills

working for cash when they can get it

masters at transportation in order to survive

 

years later their children come to my yard sale

all grown up having moved away

eager to say Hello and reminisce

 

without shame they laugh about the cart

having done nothing to help back then

I find myself so proud of them, hiding my guilt