Your mother
stood over
the washtub
the steam rising upward
she poked the boiling wash
with what she called
her copper stick
pushing it down
and around now and then
wiping sweat
from her brow
and you stood watching
seeing her push
the washing down
with the stick
as if she were a good pirate
plunging with a sword
the bad pirates
from some skull
and crossbones ship
and when she lifted the stick
water fell back down
like grey watery blood
what’s for dinner today?
you asked
it’ll have to be cold meat
and beans and mash
as it’s washday
and I still
have much to do
she said
and yes it was Monday
and Tuesday was stew
and so you left her
with the washing
and imaginary pirates
and the steam
and heat
and went out to play
in the Square with Jim
then along under
the railway bridge
to meet Helen
with Battered Betty her doll
and take a walk
to the Neptune’s
fish & chip shop
for 6d worth of chips
and held Helen’s hand
on the way back
to the Square
then to that place
under the railway bridge
and kissed and left her there.
Jan 31, 2013
Jan 31, 2013 at 12:08 PM UTC
Your mother
stood over
the washtub
the steam rising upward
she poked the boiling wash
with what she called
her copper stick
pushing it down
and around now and then
wiping sweat
from her brow
and you stood watching
seeing her push
the washing down
with the stick
as if she were a good pirate
plunging with a sword
the bad pirates
from some skull
and crossbones ship
and when she lifted the stick
water fell back down
like grey watery blood
what’s for dinner today?
you asked
it’ll have to be cold meat
and beans and mash
as it’s washday
and I still
have much to do
she said
and yes it was Monday
and Tuesday was stew
and so you left her
with the washing
and imaginary pirates
and the steam
and heat
and went out to play
in the Square with Jim
then along under
the railway bridge
to meet Helen
with Battered Betty her doll
and take a walk
to the Neptune’s
fish & chip shop
for 6d worth of chips
and held Helen’s hand
on the way back
to the Square
then to that place
under the railway bridge
and kissed and left her there.
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