Poets' Practice Pad

*By way of explanation* I collect other people's lists. Shopping lists, things to do, anything handwritten and thrown away. They are often humdrum but from time to time there can be real magic within them, an entire life you can derive from a few words. That's what this poem is about, my favourite of all my lists, and the imagined history I have created around it. Please note, any spelling errors are [sic] from the note, and to be honest, a big part of it's charm.

The List.

1 onion
3 packs Hula Hoops 49
3 packs Wagon 39 wheels
4 milk
2 bottles Pepsi
59p

Bye me a cream cake x

An old man,
struggling with the arthritis in his hands,
writes a list for his wife.

She is the one who goes to the shops now.
She is the one who looks after him now.

He counts out the correct money for each item
from a jar on the mantel.
He calls out to her,
as she is in the kitchen,
asks her if they need anything else.
She calls back that she can't hear him,
and he says, 'never mind'.
She calls back again that she can't hear him,
and he sighs and half-smiles.

She comes into the lounge where he sits,
concentrating on not spilling the tea on the tray.

She says, 'what was that, dear?'
and he says, 'nothing, love.
'Here's the list fo the shops.'

She takes it from him,
holds at armslength and squints her eyes almost shut.
she scans down the list,
and smiles when she sees the end.

The old man chuckles in a dry throat
and his wife hands him the tea
and places her hand on his.



Hope you like it!