Autumn Term
They make the slow haul uphill
with their shop-branded bags
of untried school uniforms
The boy bears his boxed Clarks shoes
as the girl lugs her sweatshop shirts –
freshly picked off Primark shelves –
Still with plenty of growing in ’em
was her mother’s observation
as she calculated the cost of it all
These slack summer holidays
will end not soon enough
for the parents – but not the kids
The hour-numbed regiments
will reform and take the school gates
in their battle colours of navy blue.