I meet me ambling along in the aisles of the grocery store on coupon day I look into my cart pasta milk sliced bread instead of eggs fish fruit fresh vegetables what a cheapo man I am in dire need of a good nutrition book
last Saturday too I saw me hiking on the outer trail of the state park I wore torn yoga pants old tennis shoes nature deserves a better presentation my ankles scream for high boots I shouldn’t debase the pristine outdoors looking like a gutterpup ‘specially on weekends and holidays
also I best begin avoiding places where I can bump into me
A short version of this poem was published in 50WS on April 10, 2025.
Toni Verkruysse
Toni Verkruysse has a painting in the Olympic Archives, and was chosen as the local artist for the 1980 Lake Placid Olympics. She also illustrated the children’s book, “The Legend of Herkimer Diamonds.”