[Based on a true story, Lita Kurth exposes the risk and dangers of
an all-night job. ]
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PORTSIDE CULTURE
REQUIEM FOR A SAFEWAY EMPLOYEE
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Lita Kurth
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_ Based on a true story, Lita Kurth exposes the risk and dangers of
an all-night job. _
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REQUIEM FOR A SAFEWAY EMPLOYEE
By Lita Kurth
It was 3 AM
Maybe a friend at the register up front
signaled for help
Or you saw a suspicious someone
by the beer coolers
You went to help. Spoke up
took some action
interfered with someone’s plan
Must have thought words would
be sufficient
What went through your head
when you saw the gun?
You didn’t hide or run
Maybe the robber was 24 too
It was 3 AM
He came for the cash/beer/lottery tickets
Whatever
From San Jose to Afghanistan
what we want we get with a gun
Go ahead. Take
whatever
But shoot someone in the head?
Was it one of those larger guns
that leave
no head on a body?
The robber took the cash/booze/lottery tickets
also what he didn’t plan
death weighing down a gym bag
his name
in the paper but not for pride
the name “Murderer” hanging on his neck
all the sobs to come
Drink the booze, then, thief
short-time riches
in the time
before you do time
You killed your buzz
you killed a man
What would you give
to begin again
before 3 AM?
Turn back, turn back, security camera
back to the time before the crime
How far back do we have to go?
Before the gun in hand
Long before 24
Long before 3 AM
Lita Kurth has published fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry. Her
book of prompts, _One Year Creative Writing Journal: 365 Writing
Prompts to Spark Creativity_ (Sourcebooks, Penguin-Random) is due out
in February 2024. She has received multiple Pushcart and Best of the
Net nominations for fiction and creative nonfiction. “This is the
Way We Wash the Clothes,” (CNF) won the Diana Woods Memorial Award
(_Lunchticket_). She is co-founder of San Jose’s literary reading
series, Flash Fiction Forum and teaches at De Anza College and in
private workshops. An Advisory Council member of the Working Class
Studies Association, she frequently presents at their conferences.
* Poetry
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INTERPRET THE WORLD AND CHANGE IT
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