Girl In A Shop. Poem by PAUL COLVIN

I walked towards the Liquorice Tree
Not knowing what I’d find
But its quirkiness appealed to me
With gifts of every kind.

All alone and deep in thought
Submerged in concentration,
A bonnie lass who saw me not
Dismissing salutation.

But all at once a friendly face
Shone through dark brown hair,
She spoke of treasures in this place
And the magic in its air.

I turned around as she implored
And saw a hundred fairies dance
Then Lions Rampant loudly roared
And whistled as they pranced.

The lady led me by the hand,
The shop’s magic felt so real
And the tartan kilts displayed so grand
Now danced a Highland Reel.

Tartan bags swayed on the shelves
Lace shirts moved hand in hand
As fairies jigged with little elves
To a Scottish Ceilidh band.

Necklaces swung to and fro
Crystal pendants clinked in time,
Watches ticked and tocked as though
Waiting for a chime.

Pewter tealights filled the air
Their candles burning bright,
All I could do was stand and stare
At this lovely, wondrous sight.



Thistles and the Glasgow rose
Like waltzers sped around,
Zooming in and out of clothes
Then scuttling ‘cross the ground.


Boxes opened, hats popped out
As the piper played his tune
And the old Scots King gave up a shout
“Come on all, dance aroon”.

The Liquorice Tree was in full flow
When suddenly it stopped!
Everything knew where to go
And my jaw almost dropped.

Everything was in its place
In the best wee shop in town
For when the lady sees a friendly face
It’ll never, ever frown.

So if you go there to buy a gift
And Donna shows you ‘round,
Beware! She’ll give you such a lift,
That your feet won’t touch the ground.