NaPM April 17th 2019

[Richard]

Fatal Question


A salesclerk asks with studied innocence,
“Paper or plastic?” which begins a war
between twin angels in a shopper’s core,
each scolding and demanding penitence.

A choice of plastic, cheap con-ve-ni-ence
accepts vile ocean-choking patches, more
than heart can stomach, but she thinks of lore
concerning chainsawed trees, and sits the fence.

Her mouth moves, sputtering, “Pa-plastic, please?”
To which her naughty clerk deigns to reply,
“Dead dinosaurs?  So cute.” Her terrors wax.
“Pa-paper?” “Killing forests?”  To her knees
she falls - but there’s a hero striding by
who saves her sanity with burlap sacks.

Nice one Duke. This brought a smile to my face.