The Shopping List
POETRY
Written by Banisha Pratap (she/her) | @bxnisha | Contributing Writer
The fruit flies are settling into the overpriced bananas I forgot to eat,
There’s a pineapple in the fridge but I’m too scared to cut it.
I’ll go to the grocery store and walk through all the cold bright aisles.
I’ll look away from people and try not to think too much about their lives.
The cat food in their trolley, their muddy boots and bright hair frizzy from the sun.
My favourite part is the pretty wine bottles,
I like looking through the designs.
My least favourite part is the meat section, the world inside out. Bare and exposed. I’ll get an onion, a can of chopped tomatoes and pale butter for the pancakes.
A small box of purple-red cherries to share and a candy bar to eat in my car.
I’ll try not to react to the total at the self-checkout.
I’ll make spaghetti bolognese for us tonight,
Follow the recipe on the internet step by step.
It’ll be perfect, just the way you like it. I’ll pack you some for lunch tomorrow. I want to make sure you're eating well.
You take the pineapple out of the fridge and cut us both slices.
