Standing in line

Standing in line

Waiting for a clock

To chime the hour

The opening time

Is always an ordeal

Too many people

Needing too much

For so little

Barely a mouthful

But it is hard won

And worth the fight

To remain independently

Defiant

For the reliant

Struggle with handouts

But will barter

A loaf of bread

To keep a place to lay

Their head

Out of the rain

I will say it again

The working poor

Have a front door

But money

Leaks out of the back

Hardly a haemorrhage

There was never enough for that

It is the modern way

To accept charity

If you give something

In return

It is equitable

The comfortable

Feel less irritable

If they can organise

A Whist drive

Give their time

To a collection point

Donate to the foodbank

Clear the cupboard out

Of stuff

A bit smelly and rank

An old coat

A pair of shoes

Things they never use

A tin of tomato soup

Slimy rotten gloop

Condensed milk

Will bring on a heart attack

Put it in the pile

It will bring a smile

To someone’s face

To remember a time

When they had a ration card

Along with all the rest

And still those with

More money

Got the best

Cut of meat

Whilst everybody else

Got scrag end.