London Zoo?
Janice's gran said
when I told her
that Janice could come
to London Zoo with us
Yes
I said
Mum said to ask you
her gran looked at me
then at Janice
best come in Benedict
and we can talk it over
London Zoo
she said to herself
as much to Janice and me
Janice was by
the front door
her eyes bright
as the sun
on a dew leaf
her mouth
slightly ajar
take a seat
for a moment Benedict
Gran said
gosh
Janice said
that'd be good
I've not been
to London Zoo before
well I did go
to that zoo on holiday
but it was ever so small
and never had
big animals in it
did it Gran?
Her gran sat down
on an armchair
and said
no it didn't
you are right Janice
it was too small
but London Zoo
now there is
a zoo
she said
Janice sat down
next to me
her hands together
as if she was praying
that her gran
would agree
and not find
a reason for her
not to go
how much
would it cost?
her gran asked
no idea
Mum didn't say
she just said
asked Janice's gran
if she could go
I see
said her gran
looking at me
with her eyes
but they were her
kind eyes
not the eyes
she wore sometimes
if she was angry
with Janice
over something
when are you going?
she asked
Sunday week
I said
she looked at Janice
with her eyes
and Janice looked back
with her eyes
almost pleading
after church?
Gran asked
o yes after church
I said
not saying
that I didn't go
to church often
on a Sunday
certainly not
with my old man
and now and again
if my mother
wasn't too tired
who's going
with you?
her gran asked
I told her
my mother
and sister
and brother
and maybe
my old man
she nodded her head
a strand of hair
came loose
from her bun of hair
and her eyes
looked at Janice
well if Janice
has been good
up until then
I don't see why not
her gran said
o good
Janice said
I smiled and said
I'll tell Mum
your answer
but on the provider
that Janice has been good
Gran said
with a shake
of her grey haired head.
Mar 30, 2015
Mar 30, 2015 at 3:25 AM UTC
London Zoo?
Janice's gran said
when I told her
that Janice could come
to London Zoo with us
Yes
I said
Mum said to ask you
her gran looked at me
then at Janice
best come in Benedict
and we can talk it over
London Zoo
she said to herself
as much to Janice and me
Janice was by
the front door
her eyes bright
as the sun
on a dew leaf
her mouth
slightly ajar
take a seat
for a moment Benedict
Gran said
gosh
Janice said
that'd be good
I've not been
to London Zoo before
well I did go
to that zoo on holiday
but it was ever so small
and never had
big animals in it
did it Gran?
Her gran sat down
on an armchair
and said
no it didn't
you are right Janice
it was too small
but London Zoo
now there is
a zoo
she said
Janice sat down
next to me
her hands together
as if she was praying
that her gran
would agree
and not find
a reason for her
not to go
how much
would it cost?
her gran asked
no idea
Mum didn't say
she just said
asked Janice's gran
if she could go
I see
said her gran
looking at me
with her eyes
but they were her
kind eyes
not the eyes
she wore sometimes
if she was angry
with Janice
over something
when are you going?
she asked
Sunday week
I said
she looked at Janice
with her eyes
and Janice looked back
with her eyes
almost pleading
after church?
Gran asked
o yes after church
I said
not saying
that I didn't go
to church often
on a Sunday
certainly not
with my old man
and now and again
if my mother
wasn't too tired
who's going
with you?
her gran asked
I told her
my mother
and sister
and brother
and maybe
my old man
she nodded her head
a strand of hair
came loose
from her bun of hair
and her eyes
looked at Janice
well if Janice
has been good
up until then
I don't see why not
her gran said
o good
Janice said
I smiled and said
I'll tell Mum
your answer
but on the provider
that Janice has been good
Gran said
with a shake
of her grey haired head.
A BOY AND A GIRL AND HER GRAN ABOUT GOING TO LONDON ZOO IN 1956.
Request permission to use this poem