Footprints

I had great h
 es of travel

When I bought that shopping trolley.

You know the type:

Tartan, two wheels,Vintage.

I might even reduce my Eco footprint

And improve local air quality.

My adult children said

I'd look like Mrs Doyle

And that I 'd have to say,

"Ah, Go on! Go on! Have another cup of tea, Father!"

I reminded them that I was Mrs Doyle.

And That shut them up.

There was a great array of shopping trolleys to choose from:

The Hoppa , a folding -four -wheeler on tubular -steel -wheels

And The Rolser Eco- Pep -Logic -Tour -Model, guaranteed

To lower my footprint and reduce noise pollution.

I opted for a two -wheeler from Argos: tartan; aka TWAT.

And, on its first outing, pulled rib muscles- MINE;

What with the month's supply of flour 

And sugar and dog food and cat litter….

TWAT is now relegated to the boiler room;

Storage-bin -receptacle of shopping bags, extension leads,

Gardening gloves, coat hangers and items sundry.

Wheels sadly obsolete.

But when I look at it, I follow in Mrs Quinn's footprints,

Circa 1960, on her weekly shop -up the Oaks,

Along Thomas Street, down Scotch Street, across Irish Street,

Ending up in the Square at McAleer's corner

Where the RUC Barracks cast a long shadow

And where higher up, and further back,

The burnt remains of O'Neill's Castle still smouldered

And were about to become ignited all over again.

Copyright with Cathy Leonard-Doyle 2018