Somewhere between dairy and produce
you discovered the freshness of desire;
after the Brie and before the cilantro,
you felt the stirring.
You weren’t looking, but still you saw…
that glance,
lasting one nano-second too long
to qualify for casual acceptance.
Between house wares and baking
the shopping trip becomes a mission,
your radar scanning every aisle,
looking for those eyes.
A neophyte in ways of the heart,
yet hard wired all the same,
you leap from cliffs of only-ness
plummeting into passion’s possibilities.
Checking in at the check out line,
your pounding pulse reverberates
through the chambers of
your vacant heart.
What ifs, and then whats
crowd your galloping mind;
waffling between panic and exhilaration
you offer…
did we just have a moment?
Copyright © Henri Ferguson 2003
Author notes
Someone had asked me about a piece I had written earlier called “Those Eyes”. Prompted by an experience I had at the little market on the corner down from my apartment while living in HK. As I went back and re-read that piece the juices began to flow and this is what came out. In my mind it was like filming a little vignette, had fun doing this one.
Written October 7th, 2003
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Comments
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A very fresh piece indeed! Yes, there are those brief moments when eyes lock, and you can feel a relationship enfold in a blink of an eye. But both people carry on, never knowing if it would have been the love affair of the century - but always wondering. You described it with perfection.
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This is lovely and the first of your poems I have read - I doubt it will be the last. I like the idea of this poem - when we think we have had a moment with someone but aren't sure and can't recapture it.
Great poem.
I am sending my applause, and a smile....
Bec
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At times there are just those "instant connections"
. Can be a glimpse, a voice, or even just a feeling. And you know...there is more to it than a casual passing. You captured it well. Had to go and read the original poem. Left a comment there, too.
Maddie -
couldnt help but ask for a price check for condoms....
cus that is what your walkin out of that store with!!!!
umm lol sorry.. you know im joking!!!
I liked this alot.. all the moments shared with all sorts of people in such busy lives... sort of got me squishy inside with this one... couldnt help take the cart down sensual lane...
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Henri, You've done such a wonderful job of capturing a moment in time and expanding it... these little moments are so fleeting that we hardly recognize them. I think these lines are brilliant "what ifs and then whats crowd your galloping mind." These chance moments are a double edge sword, in that, what do we do once we think we've experienced or shared 'a moment' with someone? We feel exhilarated but are often too nervous to take action and introduce ourselves. Nicely done, Henri… thoroughly enjoyed your words. Thank you – Helen
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Isn't it true that the look in one's eyes is worth a thousand words and a precious moment? "What ifs and then whats"- such a perfect line. Eyes scanning the room nervously for that one special moment....
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This truly was like a little vignette as you mentionned..
.written with a lot of flair 
AAhhhh...those meeting of the eyes that can happen in the weirdest places and then give us something for the imagination for the rest of that day { without ever following up } it is I think just a perk afforded us once inawhile in anotherwise mondane<---SP ? day . I enjoyed reading this , and ermmmmm , came to the conclusion you are also a bit of a food connaisseur. ..brie , cilantro 
not on the average shopping list now eh ? Bon appetit !
And thx for your kind comment on my Dawn and Dusk write
Respectfully,
Reenie
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Ya know... you just never know what might happen between produce and dairy... lol :-)
This captivated me... very real situation, where we happen upon someone (those eyes)... and everything inside comes alive. I especially like your use of "only-ness"... very creative.
Enjoyed this much, well done,
~ Wendy -
yet again the masterful capture of a moment and the feelings sights and sounds associated with it, I shop, like most these days in a huge supermarket,
but miss the days when the weeks shop used to take me most of the day going from grocer, to butcher, to fishmonger etc, moments of social interaction that just dont occur now and a feeling of community thats disapeared, makes moments such as you describe here so much more rare and so much more precious
bravo
thank you for this poem
Victoria xxXxx
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And in the mad rush Henri these little moments are few and far
between...really like how you have captured a moment in time
( an observation as such ) and expressed your thoughts via
verse...I tend to avoid gazes myself , its something that has
always made me umcomfortable in any capacity , unless I
am expressing anger , then I can stare for longer than is
socially acceptable !!!
Enjoyed this.
~ sonia ~ -
Yes. I know.
It is through the windows of the eyes that the Idea is being planted.
And then follows the good or the evil act.
Something interesting: I love eyes. It really may be called the windows of the soul. One cannot communicate without that straight gaze (whatever the content of communication may be). Yet I experienced during my life that mostly God blinded me, that I do not see evil. But, if I do ("you weren’t looking, but still you saw…"), it is a great responsibility to make choices within the MIND. When you think the thought, the deed has been done. And this is where I try to monitor and classify the information given by my eyes.
So, a little flirtation, how "innocent" it may be, may lead to complications - whenever the eyes are not really truthful! Sooooooo: watch out for those treacherous glances ...
Of course we poets are more literally inclined in our scanning of reality
You are a great writer, and a social scientist. I love your work. I try my utmost NOT to sin
Greetings with a straight gaze,
Myra
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This poem was exhilarating! I have had those "moments" at the supermarket and your poem captured the romance, excitement and intrigue that accompanies those moments splendidly! Very nicely done...I really enjoyed it!
<3 Maureen
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In a world full of fellow humans who go out of their way to NOT make eye contact, it is quite amazing sometimes to look and see one looking back at you. And.. when the glance is a breath longer.. ah... I think we would all like to share.." a moment" with someone...even if to only take that look home to remember fondly as we drift to sleep that night. And as we drift..we wonder... why didn't we do more than... "share a moment"?
Wonderful write Henri...I enjoyed it very much. And you can be sure tomorrow as I wander my place of work... between the houseware isle...and the vacumes...LOL I shall be looking for the "eyes"...
smiles...
Mary Ann -
I can smell the recycled mini-mart air as my ears are flooded with the monotonous voice over the p.a. broadcasting the need for a "wet clean-up" at register three. This is a great work that anyone who has lived can relate to.
Edited on Oct 07, 9:16 p.m. because ''. -
i loved this. i hate the food store though. but if i could have moments liekt his there then i would go more often, lol. good write
*iSiS* -
Something fishy.....
Aaah, how breathtaking a grocery store can be =). I was in our local Mad Butcher today and locked eyes with a man stocking shelves. It's so innocent and guilt-free to delve into a stranger's thoughts for a couple of seconds, and gets the testosterone flowing, doesn't it? I adored this poem. Great insight.
Love,
Meredith (blackbird11) -
The flow was very good, and the words insightful. What strange creatures we are. How we avoid one anothers gaze for fear of what we might see there. Isn't that just a bit scary? At the same time, I'm one of those humans too. I wonder and worry too much about things which may mean nothing. I'm trying to get over my didactic tendencies though. I think I'll probably be pretty natural and un-selfconscious
about the time I'm too old to take advantage of the talent. -
cute
That is such a cute poem and i enjoyed every word of it. Experiencing moments like that every once in a while just makes life so much more worth living for. Thank you for a good poem after a not-so-good day! -
did we just have a moment between the cilantro and biscuts?
LOL
this is cute and gives the suttle hint of flirting with food and the love of your life sitting across from you.
Nice!!!!
/
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WE collect moments
To store within our hearts
As our spirits long to soar~
Longing for time to stall
Longing for love to grow
Longing for froever~
Fore Time is silence
When two hearts speak~
Smiles~I really like this~
It was cute as well as romantic~
A wonderful write~
~Smiles~Emma -
Delightful, Henri, what is it about the eyes, what is it that makes them have such magical powers at times? I can remember eyes that moved me, eyes that devastated me, eyes that unnerved me - and eyes that melted me .. what was God thinking when came up with the idea of those tiny orbs with such expression.. I'm ready for more of the melting ones, gives me shivers, but the good kind. Wonderful write, Henri.
~ becky
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Spicy!
plummeting into passion's possibilities - what a wonderful alliterative line, with a slight echo in the following pounding pulse, and the sadness of the emptyness of the vacant heart. A trip to the supermarket will never be quite the same again! I feel for the soul waffling between panic and exhilaration, moments such as you describe are few and far, but stimulate the senses and add a certain zing, a piquancy; was it truly between the brie and cilantro, or did it just feel that way?! Lovely fresh write, and I also love the intrigue of the original - it is deeper, fierier (if that's a word)more sensual, but this is an interest take from the 'second unit' camera! thank you as always, Henri, for sharing these moments.
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