Poetry by Colton Claye

“Valued Customer”
             By Colton Claye

There is a battle for my spirit going on
A war waged in the supermarket
Where anonymous bodies are arranged in cases
And celebrities show off their weight loss successes
The aroma of coffee offers to bring my spirit back

There are people in a hurry
And people in my way

It is here that I find fast relief
And all-day protection

It is here that appetites seek advances in technology
Which we protect with the naturalistic fallacy
And wash our hands with romantic notions of inherent value
Basking in the sun shining on the free range

They track my movements
I can’t be trusted in this place that calls me “valued customer”
And the self-checkout is no place for reflection

Outside is a vacant space 
Reserved for those wounded 
In what we agree to call conflicts

- Colton Claye, a native of Milwaukee, WI, is an author, songwriter, visual artist and an advocate for all conscious creatures. His work has been featured in a wide variety of print and digital publications. He is a regular contributor to KSquare magazine and his latest release, The Percussive Sun, is a collection of surrealist poetry. He sends you warm regards.

Copyright©2025 by Colton Claye. All Rights Reserved.