Childhood Memories -Shopping In The 1940's Poem by Mary Mc Creath

Firstly shops specialized then
You had dairies, fruit shops,
Butcheries, news agents, shops for
Hardware, bakeries, and Confectionery
Shops that sold sweets.

Sometimes the shelves and shops were empty.
There were no customers in sight.
At other times long queues snaked
For great distances from the shop doors.

You had to be patient to go shopping in those days.
And be ready to wait in queues for a long time.
As long as it took to obtain
The items on your list.

It was easier if it did not rain, and it often did.
Then we would all huddle together in the four deep
Snaking queue against the wall if there was one.
People could not afford the luxury of an umbrella
or a raincoat.anyone lucky enough to have one of these,
Shared with all around them.

It was with great satisfaction and a sense of
A morning well spent when you could return home,
With the 5 or 6 items from 4 to 5 different shops
Safely in your keeping.For a day or two the family
Would have enough to eat for survival.