You move too slow
I get to hear
from a greyhead
behind me

not in the pecking order
not at the feeding trough
but in a shopping queue

You move too slow
clipping my heels
as she veers
to the right

to another queue
where the grass
is greener
and there is more
on offer

You move too slow
the over 60s are urged
(on evening etv news)
not to rush to centres
for their vaccine shots

so I am just
practising my slowness
my lack of speed
or slothfulness even

amused once was I
to hear two queueing locals
pondering which service
was the more slothful
(we won’t say which)

You move too slow
could be said to be
The state we are in