Standing in Line at Walmart

The angel of misfortune
settled in southern Missouri for the winter.
Warmer than her usual haunts
but still cold for what they're used to.
Wings covering the window
she stood in the bathroom fidgeting
with the toilet paper
wishing my mom would get off the commode
because she really had to go.

Standing in line at Walmart
she watched as we approached.
Her hair hung in ragged clumps
and the smell of smoke permeated
her greasy jeans.
Wings folded under a football sweatshirt
she wasn't fooling anyone.
When I saw her later at the funeral
I couldn't catch her eye.

Genoa Wilson's work has appeared in Black Buzzard Review and Earthwise Literary Calendar. She resides in Syracuse, NY.