The Village Shop By Kathleen O Farrell

The Village Shop By Kathleen O Farrell

image credit net

 

Sometimes in reflective mood,

When the past comes back to me,

I recall our village shop

In the days that used to be.

 

In that dim and fragrant cave,

You could buy just everything,

From cottage loaves to candlesticks,

From babies’ bibs to balls of string.

 

When very young I loved to go,

On messages for this and that,

Some dolly-pegs, a card of pins,

Three bacon rashers – not too fat.

 

And what a welcome one received

From Bess, in floral pinafore,

When the little, tickling bell,

Announced one’s entry through the door.

 

No pre-packed food, no serve – yourself,

But Bess would always give advice

On such a multitude of things,

While weighting sage up, or rice.

 

And wise old Will, knew all there was

To know about broad beans, and such

For, as a gardener, William had

An undisputed magic touch.

 

And oh, the lovely mingled scent

Of polish, oranges and spice,

Of cheese and apples, yellow soap,

Cough candy bars, and sugar mice!

 

Sometimes if I close my eyes,

That haunting scent returns to me,

And I am in our village shop,

Buying a ha’penny bun for tea…

 

This poem was first published in  ‘GRACE’ 2015