This post is something I wrote back in 2001, in response to a writing group challenge to write a ‘list poem’ (which this isn’t), the content of which is still just as relevant (though I don’t thing Nestle own Branston any more and I probably wouldn’t be buying chicken these days having been 99.9% vegetarian since about the date this was written).<\/p>\n
Shopping<\/strong><\/p>\n What do we need to buy this week? Fruit and veg first: Apples What else for variety? Vegetables now. Turnips? Leeks? Baby corn? Now I\u2019d better move on: Flour for bread needs to be strong. Chill cabinet next A chicken to roast, And Branston to go with Now, is there anything else…. This poem has previously been published in ‘Watford Friends Calling’ and on Watford Quakers<\/a> website<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" This post is something I wrote back in 2001, in response to a writing group challenge to write a ‘list poem’ (which this isn’t), the content of which is still just as relevant (though I don’t thing Nestle own Branston … Continue reading
\nOr should that be,
\nWhat do we want<\/strong> to buy this week?
\nLet me just see.<\/p>\n
\nBananas
\nShould they be ripe for eating now,
\nOr rather green to last the week.
\nShould I buy Fairtrade,
\nOr is organic healthier?
\nDo the fairtraders use pesticides?<\/p>\n
\nThat\u2019s easier –
\nEnglish ones are in season,
\nAnd taste the best too.
\nShouldn\u2019t be too many food miles
\nIn a Cox\u2019s pippin.<\/p>\n
\nShare the culture of our neighbours
\nAnd choose rambutan or mango?
\nOr think of the food miles,
\nAnd choose English pears?
\nAlthough seedless grapes are
\nvery cheap this week…..<\/p>\n
\nCarrots first.
\nEconomy to save money.
\nOr organic with no need to
\npeel away the pesticide residue.
\nOrganic taste better too.<\/p>\n
\nIn season, low food miles,
\nNot organic though.
\nStill we can\u2019t get everything right,
\nI\u2019ll take some of both.<\/p>\n
\nIt\u2019s delicious and
\nBrightens a stir-fry –
\nBut air-freight from Thailand?
\nIt\u2019s come a long way.
\nHas tinned food come by sea?
\nDoes it use less fuel that way?<\/p>\n
\nCoffee – that\u2019s easy!
\nFairtrade we all know
\nis what we should buy.
\nBut I should use decaff.
\nThere\u2019s some that\u2019s organic
\nbut no promise that trading was fair.<\/p>\n
\nBut white for pleasure,
\nOr wholemeal for health,
\nOrganic or stoneground or
\nEven unbleached.<\/p>\n
\nLow fat cheese would be best
\nFor our waistlines, you know,
\nThough we do like a bit of
\nBlue Danish as well.<\/p>\n
\nNow let me just see,
\nSpecial Offer!
\nor corn- fed
\nor free-range – that\u2019s for me!<\/p>\n
\nCold meat or cheese sandwich,
\nWe all like a little –
\nBut what\u2019s this I see –
\nIt\u2019s made by Nestl\u00e9
\nThose poor third world babies
\nHow can I buy this?<\/p>\n
\nA little treat perhaps.
\nA bar of chocolate –
\nOh good this bar\u2019s fairtrade and organic!
\nAt last an easy choice –
\nMilk or plain?<\/p>\n