I had a bag of shopping in my left hand
A bag of shopping in my right,
I had my hot cross buns placed carefully,
The fish of mourning wrapped up tight.
All these were awkward shackles of every woman's toil,
Just wanted to drive home again to my husband and little girl.
And that was when I saw them, walking in the road,
Men and women, kids in prams, the unborn and the old.
In front of Maldon library they set up a wooden cross,
Under a great oak tree which foamed like a halo of floss
It's greenness dagger bright.
Bright fresh windy air was snapping in my face,
The Salvation Army's sweet music was crisp in the resonant rain.
It always drizzles at Easter
And its tears dropped on all of us,
As they sang to defy the cars' roarings
And their prayers were squashed flat by a bus.
Drop, drop, sweet rain,
Refresh those eyes and ears,
For once the silent majority has overcome its fears.
1978
Mary Argent copyright