The Unlock Dress Code

10th November 2020 Poetry

By Sue Spiers

Monday’s mask bears buttercups,
saffron buttons under launderette-fog glasses.

 

Beetroot stains her Tuesday mouth
like rose lipstick. No one sees her smile.

 

To the bank on Wednesday with leaf-green
tree design, branches loop her ears.

 

Segments over her nostrils
at the grocer’s; tangerines for tea.

 

Down to the sea on Fridays, cod
and chips seep vinegar in a Hokusai wave.

 

Adoring Cadbury’s dairy milk,
the sweet shop owner nods to Jenny Joseph.

 

She hops the double decker to church
with a post-box between nose and chin.

 

Inspiration: The inspiration for this poem came, in part, from a book called Tingo which explores non-English words without translation: page 182 has the Thai dress code of colours to wear for good luck on each day of the week. This is coupled with a covid-need to wear masks, also for good luck.

 

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