A Smile Costs Extra (Poetry)

How sour they look — some shop assistants —
humourless and glum
they scowl about as though they wish
no customers would come

to breathe that chill unfriendly air
disturb the settling dust
or break the boredom — ask for help
so dare to interrupt

Few smile with an obliging smile
few pass the time of day
and some ignore you in the hope
you’ll simply go away

There’s certain shops I won’t go in
and I need say no more
I might glance in their window but
I walk straight past their door