Charity Shop Girls

Gold cherry

By Ray Schaufeld

Tue, 04 Jan 2022
  • 2737 reads
15 comments
 

None of us born in this seaside town

Laura and Moyra who work here

Claire the manager who works when she's well

Ann and I who rummage.

 

We talk -

Mothers

Ann cares for hers 

Laura's died last year

Mine's moving into a care home.

 

Pets

Claire has a new little cat

From her neighbour's cat.

'It's a dear little thing'

'I like tabbies best'

I say.

 

The gym

'Did you do much?' asks Ann

'45 minutes low intensity cycling with Kyra'

Ann ran the London Marathon

When she was 40.

 

We are all a lot older than that now!

Done better before, I'd say (and who hasn't?).

 

'Hello, hello, you know us by our noise'

We are the charity shop girls.

 

 

 

Certificate PG
Poem
Exmouth - It's the South West's Best Kept Secret
Autobiography

Comments

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Comradeship and sharing — and with those who come in? Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Ray Schaufeld on

Thanks for your good comment, Rhiannon. Yes,  Laura Moyra and Claire (names changed) are welcoming individuals and  often chat with the customers.smiley

Submitted by Turlough on

This is great!

When I was a working man, many of my less youthful clients worked as volunteers in charity shops. They told me some lovely stories about their colleagues and customers and how a sense of comradeship and doing some good seemed so rewarding.

The words of your poem echo perfectly many of the experiences that they described to me. I really enjoyed reading it.

 

Turlough

Submitted by Ray Schaufeld on

Thanks for this Turlough, glad my poem rang true for you.smiley

Submitted by Ray Schaufeld on

 

Submitted by Ray Schaufeld on

And cheers eds for the cherries

Submitted by airyfairy on

A wonderfully vivid slice of life - I can hear the voices of those charity shop girls! 

This is our hugely enjoyable Facebook and Twitter Pick of the Day! Please do share/retweet if you enjoy it too. 

Submitted by Ray Schaufeld on

Thanks for POTD  great surprise.

Submitted by Insertponceyfre... on

Such a vibrant piece - as airy says, you can hear the voices clear as day. Congratulations on the golden cherries!

 

Submitted by donignacio on

Utterly superb! Very much deserving of the pick of the day :)

 

Submitted by marandina on

All manner of life contained in in throw away conversations. Nicely done and congrats on the POTD. Paul

 

Submitted by Ray Schaufeld on

Inserto, doninacio, maradina - thanks for your friendly feedback

Submitted by Canonette on

I love volunteering in charity shops. You meet the best people. It's lovely to read a poem that celebrates ordinary things, like having a natter.

 

Submitted by jazz on

 Used to work in a charity shop..this sums it up beautifully

 

Submitted by Ray Schaufeld on

 Having a natter, very true Canonette. I think of the place as 'a talking shop'