Dear Sally,
Thanks for your comments. This poem is based on fact,except that I don't
know her as a customer, but because she lives next door to someone I know.
Barbara,
The baby is due any day now. I just hope all goes well for her.
Ryfkah,Frank,
Glad you liked it.
Kind regards,
grasshopper
----- Original Message -----
From: "Sally James" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 06, 2004 9:56 AM
Subject: Re: [THE-WORKS] New sub: The Corner Shop
This is so poignant Grassy and so believable. Simply written with the
element of truth. The Corner shop is a good title. We don't get the same
view of life from a supermarket. The check out women, men, seem like robots
compared to the real life shop keepers with stories to tell and exchange
with customers. I really love this poem Sally J
>From: grasshopper <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: The Pennine Poetry Works <[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: New sub: The Corner Shop
>Date: Mon, 5 Jul 2004 17:12:19 +0100
>
>................The Corner Shop
>
>They went on Hajj this year. She was determined.
>She said It cost him nearly £20,000, good!
>She was heavy with child, and they took the children,
>
>two boys and a girl, who were not impressed.
>In one place, Abu says, they had to sleep out in the open,
>imagine, not even in tents but on the plain ground.
>
>It was all stony he complains, but somehow the space
>where mother spread her mat had no stones.
>She said she met her in-laws. They do not like her
>
>and she does not like them. Now they are home,
>she is working in the shop again,
>heavier with child. It is only weeks now, but
>
>she has not seen a midwife. She did not return
>to the doctor's surgery after he told her about the cancer.
>She will not have treatment because of the baby.
>
>She serves me with milk, a white loaf and The Times,
>then takes a furtive suck at a bottle of Coca-Cola
>which we know she should not drink. We smile.
>
>In the street I look up at the veiled stars, and wonder
>if she dreams of clear nights above desert places
>where a mother sleeps without stones.
>
> grasshopper
|