The Woman at the Corner Shop

 

The woman at the corner shop

By name of Bella Blenkinsop -

A stout and sturdy woman, who

Sold Pegrams tea and dolly blue -

 

And firelighters and penny chews

And copies of the Evening News

And Woodbines, packs of five, and Twink

Home perms, to make the men-folk wink

 

In short, she sold most everything

From a mop to a brass curtain ring -

And if your Dad was off work, sick,

You'd take "the book"; get it on tick

 

But woe betide if one day you

Forgot to say "please", or "thank you" -

For then big Bella Blenkinsop

Would fold her meaty arms, and stop

 

Whatever she was doing - oh" -

The look you got made your face glow! -

And nevermore would you commit

The crime of rudeness, not one bit!

 

If you WERE rude again, oh dear! -

You'd get a clip around the ear -

And, consequently, us kids knew

That we must watch each 'p' and 'q'!

 

Oh! - Bella Blenkinsop! - your day

Is long-gone - but I have to say

I smile, dear Bella Blenkinsop,

When I recall your corner shop.....

 

 

Dorinda MacDowell

 

(now you have some idea that I am not exactly in the first flush of youth!!!!)