Curriculum Vitae

He was the king of the periodic table,

ruling the lab with a dry, chalky hand.

But here at the Safeway, he looks unstable,

shifting his weight, barely able to stand.

He’s buying a pizza and three-dollar wine.

His tie is loosened, the silk has a stain.

He fumbles for a card in the checkout line,

a look on his face like he’s trying to drain

the memory of every lesson he gave.

He’s just a man in a fluorescent glare,

counting his change for the little he’ll save,

with no one to notice the gray in his hair.