Reflections on an Ugly Scene

It happened at the pharmacy,
There was a woman in front of me
So obnoxiously orate,
As the cashier, she did berate.

An ugly scene of fitful rage,
Unbecoming for her age
She truly felt she'd been cheated,
And by the pharmacy mistreated.

Blinded by animosity,
Her own failure, she could not see
Insurance info unsupplied,
Their discounts she was denied.

As she cried out in her pain,
The air was chilled by such refrain
Oblivious to passersby,
She let her words of frustration fly.

When she left, the clerk I told,
Don't let this, on you lay hold
She'd seen others like her, in her work,
Dismiss it, for she was just a jerk!

But later, as on it I thought,
Diff'rent views to me it brought
For while that lady had a bad day,
Don't we all, what can I say?

It reminded me of the times,
I've reacted so unkind
And likely also made a scene,
Spewing words that were so mean.

Of such now, I am not proud,
Times when I got rank and loud
Mobilized by feelings fierce
Which only do bring out the worst!

Thus this woman, was not alone,
For all of us at times have known
Such feelings that did override,
Our usual self--our better side.

For her, it just was not her day,
Thus she put her feelings on display
So for her, I have empathy,
For it could just as well been me!

What at first, seemed an intrusion,
Has so lead me to conclusion
Don't sit so high in judgment, friend,
We may be next, to offend.

Tho' unnerving at the time,
I'm glad I stood there in that line
To better grasp my own shortfalls-
Sometimes were jerks, yes, one and all!

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