top and bottom
Woolworths
now there’s a counter to pick from
hesitation upon a wooden floor
around the oval counters
arriving back at one’s indecision
the serving girls floating
taking the proffered pennies
from sticky-handed pick-n-mix
kids with mothers in scarves
and gaping shopping bags
many doors pouring
in and out they came and went
how normal it all was
bottom Woolworth had a back door
steps arriving down town
Woolies
you’ll get it in Woolies
at the back on the counter
on the left
of course
on the right
were the records
for the likely girls
wooden
it was all wooden
the scuffed floors
the shiny counters
where the tills rang time
and it was all over
the bag was broken
hundreds and thousands everywhere
tears ran as snuffled fingers unstuck
those memories
sniff sniff
too late now
the shop is closed
the girls are all old women
and i am just standing there
proffering my penny
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