labels don’t lie, but
they expect you to listen
smallprint sermons curled beneath
expiry dates and shelf dust.
the hermit runs fingers over
“best before” like it’s a dare
and the jar dares back—
containment never suited truth.
canned peaches declare judgment
in syruped certainty:
“you’ll fail. again.”
but the hermit has heard worse
from people who smile.
there’s intent tucked
deep inside plastic wrap—
layers folded like old
wounds waiting to be undone.
and so they shop
not for groceries but to rewrite
what everyone thought
they’d believe.
.
-
Author:
crypticbard (Pseudonym) (
Offline) - Published: January 6th, 2026 06:19
- Category: Unclassified
- Views: 2
- Users favorite of this poem: Friendship
Offline)
Comments1
Well written, your poem delves into themes of consumerism, identity, and the psychological impact of societal norms. It contrasts the superficiality of product labels with the complexity of human experience, suggesting that people shop not just for physical items but to counteract the assumptions others have about them.
It was much fun, thank you, dear Friebdship 🕊️🙏🏻
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