TEAR IN EYE 1951A Poem by Terry CollettA BOY AND GIRL AT AN ARMY BASE KIDS AND ELDERS IN 1951 IN ENGLANDAuntie took me to the hut where the wives of army men could meet and talk and drink tea and eat home-baked cakes or buns it was quite crowded with wives and their kids and she saw Milly and her daughter Elsie and walked over to them where they were sitting here sit here next to me I'll get you a tea and cake Milly said o thank you Auntie said Benny you go with Milly and she'll get you something so I walked with Milly and she got me a beaker of orange juice and I took a cake and she got Auntie's stuff and we walked back Elsie was sitting the other side of Auntie and stared at me as I approached move up Elsie Milly said let Benny sit down next to his auntie Elsie pulled a face and moved along a seat unhappily and sat staring at me I wanted to sit there she said it's my auntie I said she's my Mum's friend and my friend Elsie said you're not I sat in-between Auntie and Elsie she pouted and glared with her little eyes I'm 5 and the oldest of us so I should sit where I want to she muttered I sipped my orange juice didn't you bring your doll? I asked her no it wanted to sleep and its too noisy in here she said maybe I can see your doll at sometime? I said no it doesn't like you she said I nibbled my cake did you want some of my cake? I asked her looking at her not if you've touched it she said Milly moved a hand across and slapped Elsie's leg don't be so horrible to Benny she said sorry about her Benny she's got a mood on her Milly said and sat back and talked to Auntie again Elsie pouted harder and stared at her reddening leg your fault she whispered rubbing the redness want to look out the window at the parade ground and look at the soldiers marching by I said she sighed softly suppose can she said we got off the chairs and walked through the crowded room and across to a window at the other end and climbed on chairs to look out she held my hand to steady herself then let it go and we stared out at the ground and at soldiers marching by I thought I saw a tear in her 5 year old eye. © 2016 Terry Collett |
StatsAuthorTerry CollettUnited KingdomAboutTerry Collett has been writing since 1971 and published on and off since 1972. He has written poems, plays, and short stories. He is married with eight children and eight grandchildren. on January 27t.. more..Writing
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