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Running out of time

I know a woman happily demented
She scatters petals as she sleeps,
Sings the songs of the 1940s,
Thinks she is Bo-Peep.

War came to her cake shop
Put her to the test.
Now she casts her mind back there
And lets it rest.

Passes the test of time.
In a concocted rhyme.
Dresses her hair in a yellow head scarf
Says apropos of nothing but the truth:
“The hyacinth will soon be out. I love
The smell of hyacinth.” I tell her, “I do too.”

And so we do the soft shoe shuffle, sing
On Mother Kelly’s doorstep, down Paradise Row”.
I love spending time with her: in rain or sun or falling snow.
She is my mum and I love her so.

 

◄ Quiet spring rain

THE GREAT HUNGER ►

Comments

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Stephen Atkinson

Thu 27th May 2021 22:31

A lovely piece, John. And, my grandmother used to play that very song, On Mother Kelly's doorstep! I remember it was scratched to bits, but it still played, in between the crackles & jumps !

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John Marks

Thu 27th May 2021 21:29

Thank you Kindly Stephen.

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Stephen Gospage

Thu 27th May 2021 18:10

I can relate to this, John. It is so touching.

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