I had only seen him
empty cardboard crates
of fruit, and answer questions
about exotic vegetables
till back behind the apples
I saw the produce man
kneel to retrieve torn pieces
of lettuce next to the cooler
He grabbed its cold white edge
gripped the bin to steady himself
threw one leg straight out
then awkwardly bent the other
White apron stiff
smooth face stoic
he looked up and said
“it hurts worse getting up”
Elizabeth Harmatys Park writes with Authors Echo in Burlington, WI. She has received the Wisconsin Writers Association Jade Ring First Prize in poetry; her poems have been published in journals and anthologies.