LOSZENGES

 LOSZENGES                    TIM WILLIAMS     JUNE 2015

I SEE HIM STANDING IN THE DISTANCE
ARM RESTING ON A GLAMORGANSHIRE STONE WALL,
FLAT CAP SLIGHTLY ASKEW AND TO THE REAR OF HIS HEAD
THIS INDICATES TO ME HE'S BEEN LAUGHING,
WOODBINE DANGLING PRECARIOUSLY FROM HIS LIPS
TALKING TO HIS FRIEND WHO FARMS OPPOSITE " THE FOX AND HOUNDS " PUB
AT THE BOTTOM OF THE VILLAGE,
I KNOW NOT WHAT THEY DISCUSS, FOR I AM OUT OF EARSHOT,
HIS GREEN WOOLEN CARDIGAN KNITTED A SIZE TOO BIG
BY MY NAN WHO'S ERRAND I AM ON,
HIS CARDIGAN HAS TWO SWOLLEN POCKETS
ONE OBLONG , ONE ROUND, ONE FOR WOODBINES, ONE FOR HIS LOSZENGES
HIS BOILED SWEETS IN OTHER WORDS,
IT IS THE ROUND POCKET I HAVE MY EYE ON,
I CREEP STEALTHILY UP BEHIND HIM,
MY HAND REACHES FOR THE POCKET,
CONTAINING THE LOSZENGES,
I AM ALMOST THERE, WHEN I AM LIFTED LIKE A FEATHER
OFF MY FEET AND SWUNG ROUND AND ROUND
TILL I FEEL DIZZY , I HERE MENS LAUGHTER,
I SCREAM WITH EXCITEMENT AND SHRIEK WITH LAUGHTER,
WHEN I AM RELEASED FROM MY CAPTOR AND GATHER MY SPINNING HEAD
I SAY " NAN SAY'S IT'S TIME FOR LUNCH BAMP ",
" ALL THE MORE REASON YOU CANT PINCH ONE OF MY LOSZENGES YOUNG MAN "
HE SAY'S WITH A BIG GRIN.
I STILL MISS MY GRANDAD