Was this the end of those

dusty by the side of the road

women in pinnies times? his

good-natured laugh and smile

climbed out from behind

the steering wheel of his

grey bull-nose truck.
Cuts of cloth and baby clothes

sold with been-around ease,

he'd resume his country town

round with dust rising from

behind the wheels. Our sense

of remoteness trailing along

in the camphor smells.
A memory lost now

to the bar-coded blip

of check-out aisles.
But, hey. In these times

of economic rationalisation,

soon the week's shopping'll be

moused out on computer screens.

Delivered by the company's van.
Look! Coming up your street!

The past pulling up outside your house.