( a poem released last night at local monthly poetry meet the Cellar Bards)
Strolling down the supermarkets aisles
my wavering willpower in temptations path
special offers buy one, get one free
rows of ready meals, beer and crisps
on spur of moment, shopping list changes
as I walk on by must try to stay focussed
find some sustainable coffee, organic chocolate
candles and bubble bath that ease the mind
to help distract from capitalists obsessions
with greed and unmitigated power.
Advertisements release hunger
suppress the inner need for control
misconcieving and wetting appetite
subliminally like others forget to think
act like a sheep and buy another drink
a trick that makes me angry
when environmental degradation
and human rights abuse continue to grow
stuck among endless rows of plastic
processed food, that looks and tastes like shit.
Shopping can be a political act
what we choose to boycott, buy or consume
in the meantime will grab a notepad and pen
sip milk of human kindness that never ends
cancel out all walls of oppression
seek outsretched arms of affiliation
avoid goods stolen from Palestinian land
find free keys of love, for heart to rest
rekindle the gift of friendship
places to ditch superfluouos crap
