Left … or … right

The sun was shining brightly, no mercy did it show,
As round the Countdown supermarket car park we did go.
We’d gone there to buy some food, for our lunch that day,
Returning to our rental car to get back on our way.

Engine on, we slowly rolled out from the parking bay
But couldn’t see an exit sign, much to our dismay.
To turn left or to turn right, we were in a bind,
For whichever way we went no exit could we find.

From ten o’clock, till nearly noon, we searched high and low
And round and round and round again the car park we did go.
Suddenly, from out of the blue, much to our surprise,
The sign that we’d been looking for appeared before our eyes.

Breathing big sighs of relief, back on our way we went,
Cussing Countdown’s car park for the wasted time we’d spent.
Because of Countdown supermarket’s car park in Nelson
We almost missed our ferry from Picton to Wellington.

Good luck, it seemed, was on our side as things turned out all right.
The journey up Queen Charlotte Sound filled us with delight.
A sharp right turn, across Cook Strait, in Wellington by three,
Where we had a walkabout, banana cake and tea.

The moral of this story is be always on your guard,
For leaving Countdown supermarket car parks can be hard.
No need to fret if you make sure you’ve plenty time to spare
And, if at first you don’t succeed, above all, don’t despair.

@ rowland paul hill