Martha

 

She would often stand close to the door with a furtive look on her face,

with her woven shopping bag in her gloved hands.

She wore the same clothes everyday as her wardrobe was sparse,

no matter what the season or the weather she was well wrapped up.

Her most prominent item of dress was her jumper,

knitted out of some chunky wool with a red heart on the chest.

At four feet seven inches she appeared quite insignificant,

she had chubbly red cheeks, think rimmed glasses and a woolly hat.

As the Supermarket door electronically opened and closed,

she said not a word as others came and went brushing her aside.

Her eyes were fixed on a cardboard box with a label which read 'Food Bank'.

It was only a few feet away, full with items given by generous customers,

People who barely noticed she was even there.

 

Martha could guess what was inside as she was a frequent visitor.

She waited patiently for an opportune moment before making her move,

with no one looking she gently stepped forward to take what she could.

With her gloved hand she would deftly take what she could manage,

seconds passed and she had a packet of rice, a tin of dog food and toothpaste.

As unobtrusively as she had arrived she made her departure,

the electronic door closed behind her, much to her relief.

Out in the cold dark night she peered into her bag and smiled,

no longer was the cupboard bare. Dinner tonight for she and Rover.

It had been worth the wait.

Martha lived alone.