wonders of the modern age

I am crossing the street
with paper bags in hand
filled to bursting
with groceries

the first inkling
of tearing
has me limping
a little quicker

and I am halfway across
when the bags break
kneel to pick up
a half gallon of milk
and tofu

a line of cars wait
though the light has changed

"oh fuck"; I am grappling
with organic vegetables

and a man arrives
from the far side of the street
kneels with me
takes up what is left
of the spilled groceries

walks me across, and then
leaves me at the corner,
as I have a handle on this

and the last bit of grace,
a woman gets out of her car
and offers a plastic bag
a home for the tofu and milk
in my spare hand