grabbing a cart I run through a mental checklist
milk, bread, eggs . . .
meat, vegetables . . . don't forget potatoes
maybe some fruit, got to try to be healthy
turning into the 'Great Britain' aisle I stop in my tracks
hitting a wall of emotion that catches me by surprise
no matter how many times I shop here
overwhelmed by products that have me seeing dead people
chocolate bars transport me to my grandmothers house
and the stash of goodies she kept in a kitchen draw
my father given walnut whips, licorice and sugared almonds
because no one knew what else to get him
humbugs, chocolate eclairs and boiled sweets
bought for long journeys and holidays
chosen so they wouldn't melt in the car
a lesson in there somewhere
tins of quality street and roses at Christmas
always the same ones left over
malted milks, custard creams and digestive biscuits
to be dunked in mugs of tea
ribena and orange squash, drinks of childhood
frazzles, quavers, hula hoops, skips
crisps that filled school lunchboxes
flavors lingering on fingers long after they were eaten
so many memories wrapped up in food
of family and friends, alive and dead
wiping a tear from my cheek, I pick up a bag of sweets
and with a glance over my shoulder, I head for the fruit aisle
Linking up with Imaginary Garden With Real Toads and Poetry Jam
Just for reference biscuits are cookies, sweets are candy, crisps are chips and Ribena and Orange Squash are drinks.