Doorsteps

Doorsteps

A Poem by Chris Shaw
"

(errands at seven for Grandad)

"
green palmolive soap never fails
to send a trail back to Albert
to remind me of errands sent
for delicious brown baked bread

errands i ran from his home
when as a child i knew
i was in a position of trust

pennies from a deep pocket
in trousers held high by grey
elastic braces which pinged
back to hit his perfectly snow
white sleeveless cotton vest

pennies which jingled inside
the palm of my hand
as I skipped to our corner shop

where before i got there
aroma of dough in an oven
would send me i swear
to my idea of heaven

so when our baker handed over
a loaf of hovis i suffered
yes suffered and succumbed
to tempting temptation

a nibble of one corner wouldn't hurt
it could have been a mouse
though that became two, three
and then the jackpot at four

so sheepish was i when i
delivered the goods expecting
a firm reprimand, yet it never came

Albert would smile
his pale blue eyes twinkled
like stars in the night night sky
and I knew he still loved me

© 2019 Chris Shaw


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Featured Review

Ah the errant poetess returns! And with an elegant and touching piece of poetic flowing free verse nostalgia! Lovely and memory provoking. I did the same with my mums bread and she always sent me shopping. Sometimes with a few pennies to spend on myself.

Posted 4 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Chris Shaw

4 Years Ago

Thanks John. Ah those nibbled corners such a treat. I was given barley sugar sweets for going :) Can.. read more
John Alexander McFadyen

4 Years Ago

Ah yes how could I forget Barley Sugars! Sort of 'Marmite' sweets.
Chris Shaw

4 Years Ago

Yeah, love or hate :)) Sweets for old men :))



Reviews

oh your memories are so vivid in this write...and you made me think of my Grandmother...

the only grandparent I ever really knew...
she lived in Jersey....
but you brought me back there, even if the scene takes place in a totally different country, so thank you.
j.

Posted 4 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Chris Shaw

4 Years Ago

Happy that my nostalgia reminded you of your own Grandmother. Thank you for reading and your thought.. read more
back to hit his perfectly snow
white sleeveless cotton vest

I think these lines show how meticulous he was. The last lines are enough to make any reader smile. Nice one, Chris.

Posted 4 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Chris Shaw

4 Years Ago

Many thanks for your visit Tim. Your thoughts always appreciated.

Chris
This brought me to tears I loved this you hit the spot and the yummy bread lol too a very good poem with lots of sentimental value enough to bring the reader to their own far distant sweet memories
Love it

Posted 4 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Chris Shaw

4 Years Ago

Thank you Julie for your lovely review. Much appreciated.

Chris
That 5th stanza is excellent writing.

Albert sounds like a nice fellow.

Posted 4 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Chris Shaw

4 Years Ago

Thank you David. Albert was a top guy. Salt of the earth. Many thanks.

Chris
Wonderful write, always enjoy reading your poems ;-]

Posted 4 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Chris Shaw

4 Years Ago

Thank you Weeping willow. Pleased you enjoyed the read.

Chris
wonderful things, those grandfathers
How long ago could pennies still purchase goodies from the bakery
a precious remembrance

Posted 4 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Chris Shaw

4 Years Ago

Thanks Dave. A little bit of nostalgia from a long time ago.

Chris
Those were the days..........Bread not wrapped with crusts hard-baked. Vivid memories!

Posted 4 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Chris Shaw

4 Years Ago

Thank you augustus. Fresh baked bread, delicious. Thanks for your visit.

Chris
Ah, the memories. Mr Brown across the road, hanging out his window, shouting "the usual" and Flicking a five P at me on my return. A proper old five P. Health and safety would jail him these days.
He went to live in a farm when I was seven. He did! My mum wouldn't lie.
Don't worry Chris, the cops can't do anything after this long. You're safe 😀

Posted 4 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Chris Shaw

4 Years Ago

The days before elf and safety. Now it's gone nuts. You can't play conkers in school anymore, it's t.. read more
Lorry

4 Years Ago

I was six when health and safety was born. Five years of mayhem wasn't enough. I want more! You only.. read more
What a pleasant, cheery poem for a Sunday morning! Every sense comes alive reading this poem, Chris. And, the images and sounds of those pennies (yes, I'm old and remember when they could buy something without a piece of silver or paper). Perhaps a smile is worth an imperfect loaf? So it seems here. Very much like this one.

Posted 4 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Chris Shaw

4 Years Ago

Thanks Robert. Ah yes, my soft hearted Grandad, would just slice his loaf into doorsteps, complete w.. read more
this is so touching, so very nicely written as well

Posted 4 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Chris Shaw

4 Years Ago

Many thanks Kesch for visiting, most appreciated.

Chris

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21 Reviews
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Added on September 1, 2019
Last Updated on September 1, 2019

Author

Chris Shaw
Chris Shaw

Berkshire, United Kingdom



About
Albert, my paternal grandfather introduced me to Tennyson when I was nine. I have loved poetry ever since but did not attempt writing a single piece until I was 40. It's never too late to try somethin.. more..

Writing
Spoken Spoken

A Poem by Chris Shaw



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