Saturday Sweets

Here is a little poem I have written about Saturday Sweets when I was a child back in the 70’s. I am sure others can relate. A nice childhood memory from yesteryear:

Saturday Sweets

Saturday sweets when I was a child
A joyous event that made my heart go wild
Such excitement I felt at the age of six
Rushing to the corner shop for my weekly pick and mix

My nose pressed hard against the plastic screen
The most awesome sight I had ever seen
The shop keeper poised, paper bag in hand
For me to choose my feast so grand

Black jacks and fruit salads, both favourites of mine
The liquorice sherbet fountain positively divine
Flying saucers dissolved on the tip of your tongue
Fried eggs and pink shrimps, my joy had begun

Colour changing gobstoppers, in a league of their own
Some big, some small, their centres unknown
Removed from my mouth to take another look
Peeling away the layers like a well-thumbed book

Milk bottles were incredible, and as for white mice
I’d savour the flavour, they just were so nice
The pink mice were bigger and took more of my pennies
I stuck to the small stuff as I wanted so many

Cigarette candy’s at such a young age
In the present time would be sure to enrage
Candy necklaces, they took pride of place
Chomping away with a big grin on my face

Palma violets and love hearts were simply divine
You could savour the flavour and really take your time
Each sweet bestowed with a word or two
We’d giggle excitedly as young children do

Sticky gooey drumsticks, they tasted so good
Sherbet Dib Dabs and lollipops, I’d eat them all if I could
Sour jellies and cola bottles, they added some spice
Tantalised my taste buds, they were just oh so nice

Yes, rushing to the corner shop was the ultimate pleasure
A childhood memory I will always treasure
The hardest part was being good all week
To earn my pennies for my Saturday treat!!!

© Maxine Bailey
July 2021