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Nelson

Imagine President Mandela steps through 
your grocery store. He bends to speak 
with the children like Jesus, handles 
the smooth curve of a single red apple.

He remembers something he’d nearly 
forgotten that he loved -
            cone of honey colored sugarcane
            pomegranate, tough and succulent.

And he turns back into the fluorescent aisles, says
            please, move on 
            up in front of me 

nods at the cashier, taking note of her name – 
            Audrey

If Nelson Mandela shopped at your supermarket
he would leave a handprint on the freezer doors,

he would bend to speak to the children.



Excerpted from The Shape of Caught Water
available from Red Mountain Press
or directly from the author (505.670.4327)


http://redmountainpress.us/

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