Pushing the Cart

Dad pushed the shopping cart up the incline,
Not quite to the level sidewalk,
Gave a small final thrust
And turned to join me in the car.

I watched as the cart rolled down.
Catching my gaze, Dad looked back,
And twisting his face into a frown,
Retraced his steps to the descending cart.

He gave one big push,
Sending the cart back up the ramp,
Where it hit another cart sideways,
And stopped partway beyond the incline.

My Dad would never have left the job to chance.
He would have walked the cart up,
Secured it to the other carts
And then checked his work.

But this anxious old man,
Wanting to be driven home,
Pursued by tasks untended and unclear,
Found safety in the passenger seat.