top shelf
less than sublime
but isn’t life most often?
I desire more
and like I often feel at the grocery
reaching, actually climbing, foot on bottom shelf
trying to grab an item on top
just beyond reach, due to my petite stature
often times someone asks to help
other times I manage alone
the question, which begs an answer
why is what I want on the top shelf?
or perhaps better put, in a more imaginative wording
why are my wants out of reach?
is the answer in the striving
or the clerk who assists before I topple three glass bottles to the ground
meaning I need to learn to ask for help
a combination, maybe
I strive to see the positive
yet often settle, taking nothing or the less desirable yet obtainable
leaving whatever I reached for
on the top shelf
3 thoughts on "top shelf"
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keep reaching for that top shelf, like another poet said: “A man’s reach should exceed his grasp, or what’s a heaven for?”
Love the layered meaning in this top shelf poem!
So well said and relate-able. Love your word play and meaning.