Shop Local, Save the World (and Maybe Your Waistline)

I strolled past the big box, all shiny and grand,

But something felt empty, a little too bland.

Sure, prices were cheap and the aisles were wide,

But the cashier looked bored and the plants

had all died.

So I wandered downtown where the

sidewalks still creak,

And a bell on the door gives a charming

little squeak.

The baker knows me (and my weakness for pie),

He slips me an extra—“don’t tell, just comply.”

The butcher waves proudly, “today it’s on sale!”

His jokes are so bad they should land him in jail.

The coffee shop barista misspells my name,

But at least she remembers my order’s the same.

I bought socks from a knitter who hummed

as she sewed,

And a candle from Bob with a lavender ode.

The bookstore had creaks and that

musty old smell,

But the owner said, “Try this—it’ll suit you well.”

See, shopping local’s not just a trend,

It’s a handshake, a smile, the advice of a friend.

Your dollars don’t vanish to some

corporate tower,

They water the roots of your town’s growing

power.

So skip the big chain with its soul-sucking stance,

Give your quirky small shops a fighting chance.

Because when you buy local,

you’re really the winner—

(Plus the diner down the street makes a

mean chicken dinner.)