CONVERGING STRANGERS - Tim Frost 24 Nov 2011
I grew up on an endless terrace, with a privy at the back
My pride and joy my football, and later my own cloth cap
Smoothed cobbles were my transport, as the streets weren’t paved with gold
When my brother grew out of his shoes, I got them complete with the holes
My mum took care of everything, and stretched her purse each week
Her man was fighting at the front, so we lived on our ration and cheek
My favourites were just simple things, that others did not lack
A hotpot weekly on the stove, and I liked my pudding black
We played outside in our own street, kept going through thick and thin
And when it got a bit frightening, we had a shelter made of tin
I did not venture far from home, for it was a long walk back
The worst of all was Christmas, for with no Santa, we had no sack
One day I walked and walked and walked, to explore our own big town
When fortune gazed up to me, I found a penny on the ground
I picked it up – oh what a treat, for it gave me the fare for a bus
I’d not been on one before, so I couldn’t believe my luck
Usually I’d chose aniseed balls or gobstoppers for a treat
Now I had all the power, to buy myself a seat
Excited at this- my first ride, I sat at the front upstairs
Just across sat a smart soldier, who smiled as I glanced and stared
He’d boots so polished I could see myself, a few words but I was a bit bashful
We started to chat for he’d come from the war, and I asked if I could see his rifle
I said I’d not been on a bus before, that penny saved me from walking alone
He said he’d been away for nearly five years, and was at last on his way home
He’d missed his family all the time, which had made him proper sad
When he’d asked my name and which street I lived, he said “Hello son, I’m your Dad "
Tim Frost