Over the course of the year, there will be Four Challenges that focus on people and families and the places that they live.
There will be more details of how this fits together as we go, but the second of the four looks at the hub of family life, on the Corner of Kitchener and Hobson Roads, Connie’s Corner Shop.
Kitchener Road and the adjoining Hobson Road are a development of post war streets built as part of the slum clearance / regeneration of the inner cities.
As town planning was in vogue, it was decided that every block would have a shop on the corner of two roads. A Butcher, a Pub, an Iron Monger and a Grocers.
It was the Grocers that Connie Longstaff moved into and through the use of her well respected and stringently guarded Book of Tick – she quickly wove herself into the fabric of the neighbourhood. If Connie didn’t stock it, you never ate it.
So this challenge is asking you to describe a typical day in the life of Connie, it may focus on her work, the customers who frequented the shop or her ability to collect any debts on pay day. Connie, and her two boys James and Mel were never shy at getting what they were owed.
There are no limits for the poem in terms of length or style, so it is entirely in your own hands.
To be clear:
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- Write a Poem that concentrates on a day in the life of Connie’s Grocery Shop
Rules:
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- There are no length constraints
- You must be a Cult Member to submit your poem – sending it to competition@hedgehogpress.co.uk
- Send the poem by 11.59pm on the 30th of June 2025