Always wash
your hands
before meals
Auntie said
and do not speak
with your mouth full
and stand
when a lady
enters the room
and be silent
when adult's speak
and I listened
and washed
my hands
in the small
white sink
and ate the breakfast
in a silent gaze
and stood
when Auntie came
in the room
and she said
not me Benny
you needn't
stand for me
I'm just your auntie
and no lady
but she was to me
but I never
said so not
with my mouth full
and my hands
still damp
from my short ablutions
and I scant knew
of the world's way
or far off revolutions.
Sep 25, 2015
Sep 25, 2015 at 2:19 AM UTC
Always wash
your hands
before meals
Auntie said
and do not speak
with your mouth full
and stand
when a lady
enters the room
and be silent
when adult's speak
and I listened
and washed
my hands
in the small
white sink
and ate the breakfast
in a silent gaze
and stood
when Auntie came
in the room
and she said
not me Benny
you needn't
stand for me
I'm just your auntie
and no lady
but she was to me
but I never
said so not
with my mouth full
and my hands
still damp
from my short ablutions
and I scant knew
of the world's way
or far off revolutions.
A BOY AND HIS AUNTIE IN 1952 ENGLAND.
Request permission to use this poem