Joseph woke up early. The shops weren’t even open.
His wife had left him a month earlier and he was finally
ready to face the world. Even though he lost his house
and his job all he wanted was an orange.
He had no money so he took a plastic toy gun.
The idea was to demand an orange or he would shoot!
He reached the Supermarket on Mule Street and sat out the front.
It had rained the night before and Joseph could
see himself in a puddle in the car park.
The reflection in the water was sad. He hadn’t shaved for a month and
his hair was matted.
Just then the glass doors of the Supermarket slid open.
Joseph jumped to his feet.
“All I want is an Orange.” He said proudly.
Once inside the noticed that he was all alone.
He held the Gun up and said: “I don’t want any trouble”
Mandie the Check out girl screamed:”He’s got a gun”!
She pressed the alarm and the Police were on their way.
Joseph smiled at the shop keepers and went straight to the fruit section.
He broke off one of those plastic bags and counted out
10 shiny Valencia oranges all the way from California.
Suddenly he found it difficult to stand. The plastic bag
broke and all the oranges fell to the ground and rolled away.
Joseph sat down unable to move.
He starred at the bag. It only had one orange in it.
He started laughing.
An old lady called the Paramedics and
kept shouting that he was having a heart attack.
She said her husband had done the same thing. Just collapsed.
Joseph kept laughing as they lifted him into the Ambulance.
“All I wanted was an orange. Is that asking too much?” he said.
The Police officer just smiled and said:
“I’m afraid it is my friend, I’m afraid it is.”
-
Author:
David Wakeling (
Offline) - Published: February 5th, 2025 01:48
- Category: Unclassified
- Views: 12
- Users favorite of this poem: Simurgh
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Comments6
There may be a meta metaphor here. Poverty asks for justice of which there is none and comes up empty handed. The only escape in a power driven world is death the only true justice dispensed to all. How's that for a cynic's review? Good write my friend
That is spot on. When things are bad they can always get worse.Thanks for your insight mii amigo
Made me think this one because it is not to much to just want an orange, but then it is the way you go about that and they way it is received. Social as well as moral issues made an interesting and enjoyable read.
Thank you so much.Always appreciated
You are very welcome
Another one that would’ve been transported to the penal colony, back in the day. “Alms. Alms. Spare me a piece of bread. Spare me your mercy.”
Yes indeed my great great grandfather was transported to Australia for stealing a horse. He should stolen an orange.Thanks for commenting
What a price to pay for an orange. Sort of rough justice or cruel karma. Life is harsh isn’t it? A good read David. Enjoyed with my late night cuppa.
Thank you so much for reading and commenting. Always appreciated
Indeed, what a price to pay for the orange! It was sometimes power controlling the justice and sometimes hard reality.
This poem is a splendid masterpiece of metaphors! ✨🌹🌹
I enjoyed reading the journey of your poems, they are always ironic and beautiful in its own unmatched way.
Ethical and moral issues also reflected in this poem. Enjoyable read!
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