COVID-19 arrived and LOCKDOWN was considered necessary to keep Britain safe. The impact of LOCKDOWN was immense. Schools closed, workers were furloughed, and masks were the order of the day when leaving the home and venturing out to shops and healthcare providers.
This old codger remembers life during World War Two when shopping had its limitations in many ways, particularly with the issue ration books; and families were grateful for the weekly Catalogue man calling.
This time we have turned to the world-wide-web and its ‘emporium in the sky’ and shopped on-line. The result has changed retailing and local shopping for ever. It’s a mixed blessing as one of my poems published in BOOK SIX of POEMS BY AN OLD CODGER suggests. The poem offers a brief review of the experiences when going on-line and what the future holds for retail and home shopping.
I hope you agree.
I HAVE BECOME AN AMAZONIAN
I have become an Amazonian for all to see,
Not a mythical woman warrior from near
the Black Sea.
But an old codger with a laptop and a cup of tea,
Dealing with the loss of shops near me.
I’m not armed with a club or sword,
Just the website and my acer keyboard.
I sit and scan this emporium in the sky,
Every item on earth is there to buy.
I don’t have to wait in a queue,
In danger of COVID or winter flu.
Where items are scanned at a hell of a pace,
And looped muzak played throughout the place.
I sit and shop in a sedentary style,
The ease of purchase just makes me smile.
It’s not instant, just wait a day,
Brought to the door for no extra pay.
Soon my orders will arrive by drone,
As they whizz around the sky to the landing zone.
Day and night orders will be despatched,
Star gazers confused as new ‘shooting stars’ unlatched.
Realistically, I’ve ordered an image from a screen,
Is the colour that shade of green?
Will the stitching itch my skin?
Will the fit make me look fat or thin?
There is nothing like handling the real thing,
For weight or shape and no misunderstanding.
But that opportunity for shopping is disappearing,
As Amazonians like me keep on ordering.
Copyright 2025 Neil Davies
If you liked this poem, please tell your friends and family, or better still, buy a copy of my books.
Thank you,
Stay safe.
Neil.