Self-Checkout

my red eye 

is here to read the square

encrypted truth 

of what you are

I stare 

time and again

at your hands dancing beneath me 

dark and light

young and old

strong, confident, trembling 

dutiful, angry

sometimes the code 

cannot be read

sometimes you curse at me 

you call for help 

you try to pass the same object

under my gaze 

over and over 

the produce is safe 

from my dispassion 

beautiful pineapple or kiwi 

or butternut squash or red

apples must still 

be keyed by hand 

your fingers must set them 

gently upon the scale

and caress their flesh