Remember Rosy's Shop?
A poet's memories
By Ian Abbott
Rosy Dyers Shop
A glorious emporium, bursting at the seams
From dusty quarry floor, to worm riddled beams.
To children such as me, the window really was the best
Not displayed but scattered just like a treasure chest.
The old bell rang on entry bouncing on its curly spring
I’d look round in amazement in awe of everything
Through her puppet theatre peering, wrinkled old and grey
‘What can I get you my love?’ Was what she’d always say.
The shop was open, so it seemed, right around the clock
Never moving from her seat, surrounded by her stock
There were writing pads and boot laces
pans and plates and pencils
There were tins of beans and soup and fruit
haberdashery and lentils.
That tiny shop sold everything that you could ever need
From pear drops, liquorice and penny chews to balls of aniseed.
Brushes, buckets, soap and toys whatever caught your eye
There were few things in that shop that she could not supply.
To her grave went Rosy as that’s the way it goes
Sadly, No longer ‘Open all hours’,
no more shop,
no Rose.
Comments about this page
Well done Ian on a very delightful and descriptive poem. Rosie was definitely “Bottesford Royalty” in her era and something we look back on with a lot of lovely memories. Bring back the Corner Store. My Father Police Sgt Bradshaw, always described the shop as “Rosie Dyers Walk round Store.” Regards Michael & Liz Bradshaw {Adelaide South Australia}
As children we used to come up to Bottesford and stay with my grandparents (Millers) in Grantham Road and Hand’s Walk. Rosy Dyer’s sweet shop, as we called it, was the highlight of conversation during the long journey from Kent. Every day we would be up there choosing our ‘four for a penny’ sweets or pear drops etc. What a great lady and she always knew our names although we only came up once or twice a year! Great poem!
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