THE CLEAREST LIGHT

(what Jennie O., age 66, a clerk at the supermarket, said)

“I see lots of sad people at the store,

folks who have forgotten how full of kindness

life can be. I can’t blame them, of course,

since I’m sure they’ve seen enough suffering

to switch off all the light in their lives.

I like my job because maybe I can bring

some sunlight into their overcast lives, just

for a second or two. Simply a smile from me

can maybe make someone see the kindness

that cares for all of us, always, except

that sometimes we don’t notice it. I send out

my friendship to every shopper, especially

the ones whose sorrow seems to surround them.

I hand them their receipt, and a smile,

because kindness is the clearest light.”