Beating the Line

How often

does it happen

that you're not the last one

in line,

but rather
the one 

who actually beats 

the crowd?

Well today,

I am that man.

Not once,

But thrice over,

I have beat the crowd

And been first in line,

Only to see it grow behind me.

I wish I knew

How it was done -

How to pre-empt

Where everyone else was going

And 

What everyone else was doing

And do it so effortlessly

As to avoid disrupting my schedule,

Though it would 

Inevitably

Delay theirs.

And I guess that's how it is -

The law of the line jungle:

Somebody will be there first,

And most people will have to wait,

And, hopefully, someone will be that

Kind-hearted person

(Like the one I met at Aldi last week)

Who sees your meager fist of groceries

Is nothing compared to her pack-muled cart

And let's you go ahead.

Or perhaps that kind-hearted someone 

Will be the one who sees your heavy load

of groceries, toiletries, house wares, doodads, and

Screaming child

And let's you go first

Because,

Though she only has bread and milk,

She also actually does have all day.

Or, perhaps, that kind-hearted someone
Will simply make the standing and waiting in line
Just a bit more tolerable. 

And though we ultimately can't control

If we're the one who's first

Or the one who has to wait,

At least the kind-hearted part

Is always an option.

So I guess 
that's what I wish 
I knew:
How to be 
that kind-hearted someone,
the appropriate one for the situation.

I hope
I will be that man
Tomorrow
And do so
Thrice over.