Day Before Easter At The Zoo Poem by Douglas McClarty

Arrived. What will I see today in this maze?
As I turn into 'soap powder row', as I call it

Last week I called it 'domestos lane'
Right cheeks, left cheeks all staring

at filled shelves, depleting bank accounts.
Temptation around every bend, bargains

two for ones, three for ones, sell by dates.
Confused, abused by crashing carts, robbed

per litre, per gram, per kilo, pears over ripe.
The lady with the calculator, calculating

the cost per gram, of the Italian Parma ham.
I swear the asylum has been emptied, all here

Bank holiday appetites, the resurrection, stock up.
The second coming, it's obvious, must be at hand.

Arrive at the checkout, at least twenty in the queue.
Piled up trolleys waiting to hear that continuing blip

I almost flatlined as I was handed my final bill.
More cash to the charity who packed my 5p bags

Pushed my trolley through the chattering crowds.
Fresh air at last in the car park? Out of the Zoo

How time has past, I'm reminded, there on display
A sixty pound parking ticket, 'have a nice day'

Douglas McClarty April 2017.