The Woman Nearly Collides with Her Ex at Trader Joe’s

by Tobi Alfier

Her sight is going but not gone
she drives the way her granny used to
everyone look out, here she comes,
ragged as an old housedress but safe.
She needs her days as simple as hymns
so she rounds the parking lot,
looks for his car,
is it safe to go in, yes it is.

She runs her fingers over embossed labels,
buys wine for the art, and the color—
deep dark red, always red,
and just like a confessional she goes out,
he comes in.
She heads to her favorite checkout guy
who blocks her from sight.
Wine, bacon, the creamiest brie
and the devil’s dark chocolate caramels
lounging seductively at the register.

Her ex is by the salad.
Everyone knows her story
and it sure ain’t pretty
so they tell her when
it’s safe to go out.
One fallen angel,
whose eyes see 
in bruised colors
and dark magic,
escorted out—like
witness protection.

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Tobi Alfier won second prize in the Orchard Street Press 2026 Poetry Contest. Her credits include Arkansas Review, The American Journal of Poetry, James Dickey Review, Jerry Jazz Musician, Louisiana Literature, ONEART, Permafrost, Prosetrics, Ragaire, and Washington Square Review. She is co-editor of San Pedro River Review (www.bluehorsepress.com).