A stretch

To this I stretch
The next day in threadbare elastic
Carry pennies in my pocket, for comfort
And seek a virtue in solitude.

I wash potatoes
And daily list the absences
Pen scribing another wish
On my essentials shopping list.

And there it hangs
Like a role call of past captains,
A celebration of success
While I avoid the excess
Of a sandwhich.

Another lightbulb has gone
And faithfully I write it on
My illusions lengthening
Like late shadows,
Another line
Underneath tomatoes.

My own have grown small and sweet
Parched often in their bag
Organic, they are in all irony.
And soon I'll have luxury
Of picking a single strawberry.