Saturday, 17 April 2021

Back from Shopping

 
Written for Paul Brookes' ekphrastic challenge - one poem a day in April 2021. 
 
The art work for this day is "Back from Shopping" by John Law, and "Badger" by Kerfe Roig




 
Back from Shopping

This 'ill gets steeper every year!
Ya not wrong, Joan!
A pause to catch their breath, then
Ooh, guess who's died!
Who?
Well, I'm asking you!
Well, we don't know. You tell us!
Ooh, ya no fun these days, Maureen.
All right, that old bloke with the dog. Who sits outside the shops.
A pregnant pause.
We've just seen 'im, Maureen. You said hello!
Ooh, so I did. I'm losin' mi marbles, like mi mam did.
You two are 'opeless. Let's get goin', I've got to get our Charlotte 'ome
Tell 'em about that thing, nan! In the garden.
Ooh, yes. You'll never guess what worrin ar garden last neet. 
Dunno - a Peepin' Tom?
All three ladies laugh.
What's a peepintom, nan?
Never you mind, luv. No, it worra badger. A big 'un.
Ooh, I don't like them. Big things. Don't like 'em being killed, though.
No. 
No. 
They stop for breath and Joan lights a fag. 
Joan, who was it?
Who was what?
Who died?
Another pause and exhale of smoke. 
Dunno, can't remember now. 
 
Tim Fellows 2021
 



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