The little girl who learned to read

Cherry

By shoe

Sat, 12 Dec 2009
  • 4128 reads
17 comments
 

The mother married a travelling man,
the fourth child, a minor happenstance,
crept into the collective bed,
and lived on oxo, tea and bread.

School was a magical day at the fair,
clean white paper, coloured crayons,
phonetics and the alphabet,
took her to a different world,
She found no friends in this alien place,
merely lost herself in every page.

Too young for dole, below the law,
she worked the fields to earn her worth,
spent her pennies at jumble sales,
on pony books and fairy tales.

Another site, Another dump,
cock fights and surrendered cars,
detritus of another life,
in the glovebox, an identity, a real address,
she keeps the keys for lucky charms.

Another lay-by, Another field,
suspicious looks and stolen wood,
to black the pot and roast the spuds,
the chavvies bury in the ash,
like sacrificial heads on sticks,
they come out charred and blackened.

Tangle haired and grimy necked,
her filthy hands take hold,
of my dog-eared book of other worlds,
manna, to her hungry soul.

Certificate U
Poem
Ramblings of a poetaster
Miscellaneous

Comments

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on
Such a poignant story you weave here, shoe, with your words. (just a teeny typo -second line, first stanza, should be 'fourth'. The last stanza is particularly strong:- 'Tangle haired and grimy necked, her filthy hands take hold, of my dog-eared book of other worlds, manna, to her hungry soul.' and finishes the poem, beautifully. Tina

 

Submitted by hilary west on
Nice juxtaposition of gypsy life and the world of learning. They should not be mutually exclusive, but of course tend to be. I hope my reading suggestions (The Quotes) in the collections will be taken up by one and all !

 

Submitted by shoe on
Thanks Tina, I really appreciate your comments and have corrected the typo, used to be able to touch type 40 wpm, not anymore! :-0 Shirley

 

Submitted by threeleafshamrock on
Almost like an insight. Very very enjoyable, well done... Chris ;)

Submitted by shoe on
Thanks Chris, pleased you enjoyed, thank you for taking time to say so too, :-)

 

Submitted by kheldar on
"spent her pennies at jumble sales, on pony books and fairy tales" What a fantastic summation of a child's needs to escape into another world, if only briefly. I love the atmosphere you weave into your words.

cool

Submitted by shoe on
Thanks Kheldar, for reading, for your kind comments, and for understanding. Shirley :-)

 

Submitted by shoe on
Thanks to ABC, I'm so glad you like my poem,:-)

 

Submitted by Cavalcader on
new Shoe well done! on the well earn't cherry! yes this is beautifully put and condensed so true for some of people's lives.Very interesting, I loved all of it.Weaving it all into it, 'Tangles haired and grimy necked, her filthy hand's takehold of my dog-eared book of other worlds, Manna to her hungry soul! Grannny had a black stove, polish hard she would, often potatoes black.and her face very sallow complexion, and read crystal ball, and t.leaves. I don't believe in then, as alittle girl, but my late Dad seemed to pick all telepathy part's up all said came true hated it. he'd cook, say "Boy's be home four son's 2 from Navy I know coming,sure enough turn up, and stay on floor, friend's he make gorgeous wesl rarebit, and add oxo.nothing he couldn't do.Read my MangleMess of some of life's experiences.may like trying to finish as I once as a child and illness,polio, a family 8 three got,but dad painter and decorator worked there. was bought and dressed by an elderly couple, head to foot, at ten years old, had to where stayed elderly people take it all off before going home? So I was Cinderella never went to the ball.But done a lot over last few years. 7 years. cavalcader x julie (:-

Submitted by shoe on
Julie, you could write a book, such vivid descriptions, and such heart... lovely to hear all,:-)

 

Submitted by shoe on
Thank you Nathan, for reading and for your lovely comment,:-)

 

Submitted by kheldar on
Well done on getting poem of the week, shoe; this poem certainly deserves it!

cool

Submitted by shoe on
Thank you Kheldar, your comments are so kind and so very welcome,:-}

 

Submitted by threeleafshamrock on
Brilliant and well deserving of poem of the week Shoe...keep 'em coming ;)

Submitted by shoe on
Thanks mr shamrock, your encouragement and kindness are much valued, keep 'em coming yourself!:}}}

 

Submitted by shoe on
Thanks to ABC, I'm so chuffed, like a puppy with two tails this morning, I've learned so much from reading the work posted here from all the abc,er's, and a warm welcome too, so a big thanks to them,:-}

 

Submitted by threeleafshamrock on
Well, you certainly came in with a bang ;) Welcome!