by B. R. GOWANI
Self checkout counters PHOTO/Walmart
I was proceeding towards a counter to join a line
someone advised me to go to the self checkout sign
he was one of the workers doing his job at the mart
a pleasant natured person was doing the assigned part
I told him: “today you’re sending me to that machine
tomorrow, you’ll be losing your job,” a tragic scene
he replied: “What can we do, the management commands us
to encourage customers to self check out,” we can’t fuss
it reminds of the 1890s, when the defending Filipino rebels
were forced by the US forces to dig rows of grave cells
that were cruelly used to house their own dead selves!
the record of that deed now sits on the library shelves
B. R. Gowani can be reached at brgowani@hotmail.com