Bur-Ler's Variety Store

Memories of my first job

Bur-Ler's Variety Store

The wooden floors
The big glass doors
Cash registers with cranks

The glass showcase
I loved that place
The place of work and pranks

When we lost power
It took an hour
Before it was restored

Customers came
In spite of rain
And we were never bored

From children's toys
That made loud noise
From Levi jeans to rings

From cigarettes
To girl's barrettes
Store of a million things

Simple dime store
Is now no more
Sadly, could not withstand

The bigger chains
With bigger names
Monopolize the land

But it was there
In Motown fair
My work career would flow'r

Just turned fourteen
It seemed a dream
To earn two bucks an hour


© 2001 Sharon Lee