Shopping For Essentials (Poetry)

True Love it seems is often out of stock
the narrow shelf it sits upon shows bare
too frequent offers cheapen it and mock
a commodity thought priceless — rich and rare.

Faith runs sticky — spilling on the floor
its packaging too flimsy for its weight
and few judge it essential any more
so take a chance — abandon all to Fate.

Hope is in a box that’s big and bright
(and often near the top of the wish list)
designed to keep its contents sealed in tight
dire warnings should the use-by date be missed.

Happiness won’t keep for very long
like bread or cake arriving fresh each day
consumed before the fleeting pleasure’s gone
the smaller crumbs get wasted — thrown away.

But chocolate’s meant for comfort — and a must
when all else fails and Hope’s in short supply
its sweetness an ingredient to trust
the one sure thing available to buy.