My Cart 
Login 

This site exists for one purpose only: to help dispel the ugly and absolutely untrue myth that poetry is boring. Granted, a lot of poetry is boring, but you won't find it here. At Your Daily Poem, you'll find poetry that is touching, funny, provocative, inspiring, uplifting, and surprising. It may punch you in the gut, it may bring tears to your eyes, it may make you laugh out loud, but it most assuredly will not bore you!

Poetry on YDP—by poets living and long dead, famous to completely unknown--is specially selected for accessibility and appeal. Thanks so much for visiting—and remember: a poem a day keeps the doldrums away!


 



Bargains
by
Margaret Chula

Going out of business sale
at the Irving Street Pharmacy.
Everything in the store, 70% off!
I load up my basket with reading glasses,
silver nail polish, an ace bandage, thermometer,
sympathy cards, chartreuse thread, clothespins, Halloween
napkins, tweezers, BenGay, spiral notebook, zinc, cold cream,
bobby pins, Emeraude by Coty, and an assortment of sugarless gum.

The check-out line is long.
The man in front of me
has nothing in his hands.
He’s slim, with a craggy face
unshaven in a sexy way.
His clothes are clean
collar and cuffs frayed
cowboy boots cracked—

Are you in line? I ask
Yeah, sort of, just buying some cigs.
Great bargains here, I say.
I'm an alcoholic, he says.
Oh, what's your drink of choice?
Whiskey.

 

Straight?
Yup. Straight, no chaser.
Bad for the liver.
Sure is.
And cigarettes?
Camel, no filter.

Of course. He looks me straight in the face.
And what's your addiction?
I pause. We both look down at my basket.

© Margaret Chula
Used with the author's permission.

 

 

Margaret Chula was born in Vermont, traveled around the world in the late ‘70s, lived in Kyoto for twelve years, and now resides in Portland, Oregon. She has published twelve books, most recently One Last Scherzo. Specializing in Japanese forms, Margaret teaches workshops at universities, Zen centers, and at poetry conferences. She enjoys hiking, swimming, gardening, and creating flower arrangements for every room of the house. 

                 

 

 



Post New Comment:
Lori Levy:
Great ending.
Posted 01/06/2026 02:09 PM
Ron Stewart:
Tremendous poem. What an ending!
Posted 01/06/2026 09:17 AM
dianapoet:
I like the poem
Posted 01/06/2011 11:42 AM
Carol Hauer:
I loved the honest conversation at the checkout counter. Yep. All sorts of addictive behaviors...
Posted 01/06/2011 11:08 AM
dajoslyn:
Isn't this what many of us do? Can't pass up bargains, even on things we don't need or even want. What a great poem!
Posted 01/06/2011 10:15 AM
dotief@comcast.net:
I love and have worn Emeraude since I was a girl. How then could anyone pass up a 70% savings on that?! Wonderful poem!
Posted 01/06/2011 08:29 AM
Contents of this web site and all original text and images therein are copyright © by Your Daily Poem. All rights reserved.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Purchasing books through any poet's Amazon links helps to support Your Daily Poem.
The material on this site may not be copied, reproduced, downloaded, distributed, transmitted, stored, altered, adapted,
or otherwise used in any way without the express written permission of the owner.