Waiting in Line for Food: A Poem

For an hour,
we stood in line
waiting for the doors to open

For another hour,
we sat waiting...
we sat listening
for our names.

Waiting in line for food,
for frozen meat,
for fresh vegetables,
and dairy products
to supplement our diets
of canned foods
and pasta.

Waiting in line for food,
we thank the Creator
that it cost us our time
rather then
our meager supply of cash.

Thoughts on waiting in line

This morning I picked up a couple of food boxes I order at the beginning of the month. Naturally there was a line and I wasn't first. I've waited in lines all my life and I've never been first in line for anything. Probably just as well, I suspect those who are first in line have waited all night or gotten up before dawn to get into the line.

If I wait all night to get in line, then I have to sleep in my car with the doors locked and no bathroom near. Therefore, there isn't any reason to wait in line all night for anything. I do get up before dawn, but I have prayers to say and coffee to brew. I'm not giving up either just to wait in line. I do have my priorities and waiting in line isn't one of them.

I don't mind waiting if I have someone to talk to, a book to read or journal for writing. Today I had someone to talk to, so the time passed quickly. When I returned home, we fixed fried sweet potatoes and stake. I haven't had fried sweet potatoes before, they were good.

Sweet potatoes fried
in an electric skillet
good to the last one.