Baby Pencil Pusher

Stubby little hands push
coloured pencils through
brown speaker threads
of an Art Deco Bakelite radio.

Heat radiates from tired valves
warms brown polished wood
a smell of burning gusts
into a kitchen where his mam

admires her new Tupperware,
and fresh goods for her to sell
for Avon door-to-door.
She must remember to keep

the little one occupied
with pencils and paper
while over fresh filter coffee
she sells the goods.