The Fine Print

Had a coupon, browsed the shelves
For longer than I’d planned
To find an item worthy of
The discount in my hand.

At last, when something caught my eye,
I joined the line to pay,
With just a few ahead of me –
Quite lucky, I would say.

The cashier gave my phone a glance,
The coupon on the screen,
And pointed out, in tiny print,
The dates I hadn’t seen.

“The pre-Black Friday sale begins
Tomorrow, not today.
You still want this?” he questioned
As I meekly said okay.

I felt like such a sucker
Rushing there to save a buck
When the writer of the fine print
Knew that I’d be out of luck.