Closing Down (Poetry)

Racks and racks and racks of outsize shoes -
the shop's been slowly closing down for weeks,
fitments dusty, offers now old news -
Everything must go! the notice shrieks.

Some styles are labelled Bargain - End of Range
and prices that were final fell still more,
last season's footwear fails, since fashions change,
to tempt much custom through the stickered door.

Hand-stitched leather upper, leather sole -
these court shoes seem a snip at sixteen quid
except they look quite shabby, on the whole
too old, too dull and patently too big.

More depressing is the owner's thought
he's reached that age he, too, is closing down
as gradually his lease on life runs short,
his worn out face ill-fits this trendy town.

He cashes up - the total's not a lot,
the final takings less than he supposed.
At half past five precisely, on the dot,
he locks the door and turns the sign to Closed.