Woolworths

an overloaded Anglia
with young faces expectant
drove into Sligo

the 9 were piled
sweating and overheated
in the back
of the Anglia

5 days to Santy
with Daddy driving
saying to counteract carsickness
"See the monkey climbing the tree"

piling out of the car in Sligo
mammy carrying two and leading more
ushered us to a safe place
while daddy parked

a short walk
and then
there it was
WOOLWORTHS

all our dreams
all our imaginations
unfolded before our eyes

we were ushered in
inside the double door
we stood in awe

miles of pick and mix
miles of glitter and red and gold
miles of toys and games
and games and toys
with a jolly red coated figure
watching over all

sent off to walk the aisles
under the watchful eye of
mammy and impatient daddy
and then they came
the words you dread

"what do you want?"

How can you choose
from a Christmas world of
WOOLWORTHS
sweets toys glitter and gold
I stood and looked
and looked
and looked
and looked
and daddy got impatient

I would have been happy
to be there in WOOLWORTHS
and see all there was to see
with mammy and daddy
knowing it was their special treat each year
to bring us there

an overloaded anglia
drove from Sligo
with 9 sleepy content children
one happily clutching
a weaving frame