The Smell Of Greens

Memories of lino and
Nicotine stained wallpaper
Tin bath in the yard
Ascot at the sink
Esso blue for heat
Larder full of nothing
Mum Cooking, sweating
The smell of greens
Boiling in the kitchen
Must drink the water
All waiting for Dad
In from work, quick
Scrub at the sink
All sat down now
Elbows off the table
Eat up everything or
No room for afters
Sitting down, fire roaring
Quick game of cards, then
Down to the sweetshop
Two ounces of this and that
Black and white tele
Only three stations
Mum holding the aerial
Stop, just there, don’t move
The Virginian’s on!