GRANDMA’S ROCKING CHAIR
Grandma sits in her rocking chair,
Wisps of silver in her hair.
She sits me on her voluptuous lap,
As tales of yore she does recap.
Id touch the whiskers on her chin,
“You’re growing a beard” I’d think with a grin
Her lavender scent wafted through the air
As Grandma sat in her rocking chair
A lacy handkerchief on her chest
As the babies fought for the teats on he breast
The milk dried up, there was nothing to eat
Grandma would take in washing to make ends meet.
Granddad had gone away to the war
Then a telegraph man came to the door.
He would not be coming home again
No more thrill of meeting him off the train.
Grandma knew she had to go on
For the sake of the kids she had to be strong
She would knit and sew, wash and clean.
Polish the shoes with spit to make them gleam.
The kids carried a pie to the bake house one day.
What no cooker you ask? Oh dear no way.
On the way home they dropped the pie
Will we get a good hiding they’d cry?
Yes times was ard, and they were poor
No money coming through the door.
Bu Grandma said that she was rich
How come I thought as she gave me a kiss?
CONTINUED
Grandma rich, how could this be?
I thought as she rocked me gently on her knee
The children’s mouths got harder to feed
Clothes and shoes were their main need.
As the moon and the stars shone outside so bright.
Grandma would sing to the children every night.
For dinner was a Yorkshire pudding so round
It would fill them up without a sound.
Meat was a luxury, twice a year
No sweets no treats no toys no beer
But love and care given beyond recall
Were the greatest treasure of them all
So as Grandma rocked in her rocking chair
She taught me a lesson beyond compare.
I learned about, compassion, care and love
The RICHEST thing from heaven above.
I hear the creak of the rocking chair.
I look but Grandma is no longer there.
The smell of lavender wafts through the air
As I sit in Grandma’s rocking chair
Gypsy
The runaway train
T'was in the year of '89 on that old Great Western line,
When the winter wind was blowin' shrill,
The rails were froze, the wheels were cold, then the air brakes wouldn't hold,
And Number 9 came roaring down the hill -- oh!
The runaway train came down the track and she blew,
The runaway train came down the track and she blew,
The runaway train came down the track, her whistle wide and her throttle back,
And she blew, blew, blew, blew, blew.
The engineer said the train must halt and she blew,
The engineer said the train must halt and she blew,
The engineer said the train must halt -- he said it was all the fireman's fault,
And she blew, blew, blew, blew, blew.
The fireman said he rang the bell and she blew,
The fireman said he rang the bell and she blew,
The fireman said he rang the bell -- the engineer said "You did like h***!"
And she blew, blew, blew, blew, blew.
The porter got an awful fright and she blew,
The porter got an awful fright and she blew,
The porter got an awful fright -- he got so scared he near turned white,
And she blew, blew, blew, blew, blew.
A donkey was standing in the way and she blew,
A donkey was standing in the way and she blew,
A donkey was standing in the way and all they found was just his bray,
And she blew, blew, blew, blew, blew.
The conductor said there'd be a wreck and she blew,
The conductor said there'd be a wreck and she blew,
The conductor said there'd be a wreck and he felt the chills run up his neck,
And she blew, blew, blew, blew, blew. The runaway train went over the hill and she blew,
The runaway train went over the hill and she blew,
The runaway train went over the hill and the last we heard she was going still,
And she blew, blew, blew, blew, blew.
THE WISHING WELL
The Wishing Well stood for year and years
A beacon for lovers, for laughs and tears.
People came from far and wide,
So many coins they tossed inside.
So many secrets had been told,
Of hopes and wishes, dreams to hold,
Of sorrows past, for good times in store,
For peace and happiness and so much more.
Lovers strolling hand in hand,
(Perhaps hoping for a wedding band?)
From both young and old, to rich and poor
Just trying to see what Lady Luck had in store.
The Wishing Well wished with all his heart
That the dreams and wishes he could impart.
But he knew that this would never do.
He holds his secrets for ever for me and you.
Gypsy
THE LONELY LITTLE
A little bell in a steeple lived
With all the other bells
Some were big, and some were small
But he was the tiniest of them all.
Each Sunday morning at
The bells would peal out loud
Across the country far and wide,
They would play their tunes with pride.
The little bell was very sad
His peal could not be heard
The other bells were far too grand
He felt that no chance did he stand
The other bells just laughed at him,
Poked fun and jokes and jeered.
But the little bell said you have your fun
One day my time will come”
Then one dark night Disaster hit
Fork lightening hit the spire
The big old bells had pealed their last.
Their future was now their past.
But wait a moment, all’s not lost
The little bell survived
He now plays happily on his own
Whilst the old bells sulk and groan.
So big may not always be the best
And he who laughs last wins all
Will it last? only time alone will tell,
But hark hear the laughter of a happy little bell
c. gypsyb1998
