Corner Store Bloom

Just a regular Tuesday,

picking through the frozen peas.

Then a cloud,

sweet and thick,

cloying past the aisle ends.

It was her perfume,

that cheap, bright floral,

from Woolworth's maybe.

The one she always wore,

even to the doctor.

Even to the grave, I guess.

And for a second,

the linoleum faded,

the freezer hum went quiet.

Just that scent,

a sudden, rude bloom

in the middle of the grocery store.

Then it was gone.