John Zedolik writes

Retail Limit 



We cannot go any further
than this exchange 


at the checkout, for I fear
that I am now an occasional 


irritant who asks her if she
has been writing, to which 


she has responded, “no,”
with every bag and purchase. 


* 


For my next, I will offer
to desist from my familiar 


question and only encourage
if she agrees to my advice. 


She only has to price my items
and charge the cost after all. 


The choice to create may be silent,
and hers alone to tally in hours unemployed.