A life of work in the community finally came to an end in October 2023
Maggie Pollock 1946 – 2023
Rest in Peace Maggie
Coming from a large family, plus cats, dogs, budgies and chickens I had to shout to be heard. Reading allowed me a place to go and writing doggerel is a nod to my working class roots. I have no ambition but to put smiles on people’s faces.
Lockdown Lidl The sun was shining I took my chance wrapped my face in a scarf kept my distance the chill in the air made my cheeks glow hadn’t been out for a week or so my muscles were weak I could hear my knees creak I was off to Lidl groceries to seek I scanned the view but all I saw was the queue from the door only two in cried the guard as we shuffled slowly but surely our protests muffled we moved to the front so exuberant pushing my trolley across the tiles I exchanged with the guard small tentative smiles as he let me in now the dance could begin the long empty aisles so smooth and so wide I sashayed with joy from side to side a fleckerl here a volta there a reverse by the courgettes oh look at the frame of that pair in front they are obviously taking bets on who can fleckerl the best without touching our faces averted so nobody flirted with six foot of space between what could we do not a word spoken our trolley token the price paid not even an eye dance that many would flirt with to get themselves laid the goggles and masks saw to that our trollies swung left our baskets swung right we scrambled for cartons of Muller light cheese packets tumbled cornflakes were crumbled bananas went flying onions were crying or was it the leeks I swung round each corner and froze when a body swung round the corner the same measuring tiles were we six foot apart and a third body doing the same the cashier was smiling behind a new frame on his counter where the bill for my purchases came I wished him well as I danced away all Lidled out for today
The Queens Speech They say the Queen is to give a speech at 8pm on Sunday reaching out across the land to cheer us on for Monday sitting next to her silken lamp hung with golden tassles her specs perched on the end of her nose furry slippers covering her toes under the desk where the corgis doze free from care and hassles it can’t be much fun being a monarch when your family disagree but every family can feel like that when family members cause a spat gritted teeth a slammed door somebodies dog puddle in the floor or was that Philip I used to tell my children remember what I say iIf it would make Nanny smile then do it if she wouldn’t smile then don’t imagine Nan watching their play served to remind them of will or wont it can’t be much fun being Queenie being asked to help lay down the rules on how we should act and how we should be when all Grannies want is just a babe on their knee a family nearby and a nice cup of tea and Countdown so the nation’s Nan is talking on Sunday we will all tune in this time to hear what she says to smile at her face to hope that her goodness and her grace will send the message that we need to hear what do you think you are doing? you know right from wrong do what you are told follow the rules right now carry on
