THE MASK-LESS IN SHIRLEY, SOLIHULL... (A NEW POEM...)

The Mask-less In Shirley, Solihull…

It was the first morning in England of the compulsory wearing

Of face masks for all customers in stores 

And so I donned mine, ready to enter the Stretton Road premises 

But the only other shopper wore nothing over his tightly clenched jaws…

Then at a One Stop store on the Stratford Road, Shirley,

Just three days later, I noticed another depressing sight;

A chap and his accomplice, who wore the uniform of a nurse

Entered the shop mask-less, leaving me irritated, agog and contrite…

This morning an elderly chap I know who works nearby

Simply walked unmasked into the store, unconcerned;

Then a van driver parked, elbowed open the shop door,

Yet ironically his face was uncovered, I discerned…

As I left the store, an obesity entered, also mask-less

And I avoided her with disdain and disgust;

I mumbled something about the wearing of masks

But what was the point? And who can one trust?

So five customers entered the One Stop shop today,

Yet just two wore masks, as we’ve been constantly told;

Forty per cent compliance and yet all were then served,

By an assistant instructed to do so, clinical and cold…  

Pete Ray

August 5th 2020

ONE STOP IS ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE PARKING LOT...

Unbelievable…

The chap I know, a Birmingham City fan, surprised me by wearing no mask. He didn’t see me.

The nurse wearing no face covering was a disgrace, really.

The van driver actually used his elbow to open the shop door, yet wore no face covering… What was the point? He had parked parallel across diagonal parking spaces too…

It makes you want to vomit.

STRETTON STORE IS ON THE LEFT...