My Girl Friday

Cherry

By Silver Spun Sand

Sat, 14 Jul 2012
  • 5829 reads
26 comments
 

A sea of mundane faces – sodden,
black umbrellas drift on by, and then
she catches my eye. White bobble-hat –
knitted scarf to match – nose pressed hard
against my window.

Four iced buns she buys; comes here
every week. Gives me half a crown;
the change, she pops inside her glove.

I watch her skip outside...taken by the tide
of pin-striped trousers, anoraks and faded jeans –
in her white bobble-hat, knitted scarf to match.

I put the money in the till – still warm from her hand,
and wave goodbye. Think about her going home –
back to her mum and dad; a brother or a sister
perhaps, or maybe one of each.

Funny – the way they say ‘you don’t miss
what you’ve never had’, but today, like
every other Friday, I wipe my eyes
with the sleeve of my shirt, and
get on with my life.

Certificate PG
Poem
Silver Spun Sand Poems
Miscellaneous

Comments

Submitted by fatboy74 on
Feels like a different voice here Tina - detached almost and it works so well. Congrats on the non-disappearing cherry.

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on
Thanks, fb...on both counts;-) Tina

 

Submitted by seashore on
Ah, another time, another era....half a crown. A very visual poem, Tina.

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on
You are certainly right there, Coral. 'A bob', 'half a bob'...'half a crown'etc., etc. As you say, another era. Seems so long ago now and yet like only yesterday. Pleased you liked this one, and that, for a moment, it took you back;-) Tina

 

Submitted by bonzo on
Simple language conveying so much...I could see the scene clearly. Took me back too. Thank you!

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on
Well thank you, bonzo. Much obliged to you;-) Tina

 

Submitted by Rigel on
Took me back as well. Nice.

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on
Thanks, Rigel. Tina

 

Submitted by MistakenMagic on
I agree with bonzo - a very cinematic poem, Tina! I can see the crowds and clothing and crowns right now. Well done on the cherry ;-) Magic xxx

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on
Hi there, Magic. Thank you;-) I know half a crowns were way before your time, but I am so pleased you could picture it all, nevertheless. Tina xxx

 

Submitted by Denzella on
Lovely! I can just see that 'White bobble-hat- knitted scarf to match' bobbing along the crowded street. If the shopkeeper is upset tell her a Russian Slice can be nice! Much enjoyed as if I have eaten one of those iced buns! Moya
 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on
Well hello there, Moya;-) You've made me fancy a Russian Slice right now...really set my mouth watering and no mistake. Pleased you enjoyed the poem, even if it wasn't an iced bun;-) Tina

 

Submitted by Parson Thru on
How lovely Tina. Beautifully depicted and with that wonderfully bitter aftertaste.

Parson Thru

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on
Many thanks, PT;-) Tina

 

Submitted by Cavalcader on
new Silver-Spand-Sand Hi! Tina,yep! me too can remember half crown pieces The threepenny bit so on. Great memories you have in this magical poem,feel tinge of sadness too. Brilliant way it is all mentioned,bobble scarf etc; well deserved cherries. Beautiful poem. Hope you had nice week-end. Our Microwave broke! Like things went wrong with you! julie x

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on
Oh dear, Julie. Hope you get your microwave fixed soon. At the moment we are waiting for the plumber to come and sort out a leaky tap;-) There is always something, isn't there? Pleased you enjoyed this poem, and glad that it brought back memories for you, especially of the good old half-crown. Tina xx

 

Submitted by Linda Wigzell Cress on
A different tone to this piece, Tina, wistful yet matter of fact. Good stuff. Linda

Linda

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on
My sincere thanks to you, Linda. Tina

 

Submitted by Highhat on
could just taste the iced buns Tina- very descriptive and thoughtful. Enjoyed it very much. (I liked the eclairs at the Chinese Bakery- right beside our school- probably threepence..for one! )(we had shillings and pence in Oz too until mid-60's where we converted to dollars and cents) ;)Pia

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on
Thanks, Pia;-) I must admit I like, very much, the sound of those eclairs, and the fact they were so close to your school must have made them totally irresistable. Tina;-)

 

Submitted by Indrani Ananda on
Indrani Ananda Nice and evocative of buying buns with half crowns, a sort of cosiness about it with the comfort of repetition. No mobile phones here to spoil the atmosphere, I miss all that quietness when you could walk down the street without the endless gabble of people shouting into pieces of plastic. Lovely poem, Tina. Indrani.

Indrani Ananda

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on
Yes, Indrani...wouldn't that be lovely?;-) Many thanks, and so pleased you enjoyed. Tina

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on
So many memories of past times in this poem Tina. How I remember the anoraks, I've got photos of me in a blue one that I used to wear everywhere. and my Aunty used to work in a bakers, she used to give me iced buns and donuts after school, mind you did nothing for my weight. Yes this was certainly a memory jerker for me. Great writing as usual Tina. Jenny.

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on
My anorak was grey, I seem to remember;-) Pleased this one brought you back happy memories, Jenny and many thanks for sharing. Tina

 

Submitted by TVR on
Hi Tina, lovely wistful poem, evoking a time, place and life long gone. Love the image ‘nose pressed against the window’. Clever how you do these lump-in-the-throat endings. Very subtle, and still a tear threatened to betray me. Never fails. Trev

TVR

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on
Hi there, Trev;-) Pleased you liked this one. 'Iced buns' were one of my late daughter's favourite, from a tiny tot, so the 'nose pressed hard against the window', was an easy line to write. Just closed my eyes, and there she was, bless her. Thanks for reading, and for your words. Tina