HA!

by Michael Channing

he swayed his hips when he walked
led with his crotch and every now
and then slapped the bulge
of his wallet
and gave a HA!

the rest of us
with places to be
and things to buy
rushed with our eyes down
while he crossed the parking lot
in his lazy mosey

everything was easy
cash like a pad of post-it notes
and time enough to ramble and pause
smell the roses?
he owned the garden

his cell phone
offered up a prayer
he blessed it with another exultant
HA!

i clutched my groceries
lowered my eyes
and swerved
to escape his gravity