Lollipop

Just a crossing....

                       There she leans, on the rail

                       beneath the orange beacon,

                       watchful and apart in florescent yellow,

                       but the magnet

                       for all who want to cross.

 

                       Like a ferryman,

                       she has no favourites,

                       allowing transit  to Ford and Ferrari

                       only as long as Emma,

                       hand tightheld, satchel slung,

                       is still approaching….

 

                       …but once the child arrives,

                       like a standard borne before a prince

                       or Moses parting the Red Sea,

                       the upraised staff of safety is swung

                       and all is stopped

                       for Belisha and the zebra.

Author's Note

Maybe I`m wrong, but you need to have visited Britain to fully understand this .

Reviews

[B]

What a beautiful piece ... I can picture it

Love this lollipop piece

Very creative

[Einstein Noodle]

Peter! ... I am so glad to see you posting again! I did not get a response to my inquiries and was truly worried about your health .. that aside .. a delightful read .. not a Brit so had to do my homework to gain understanding .. love the Lollipop moniker .. my beloved Norma posted such a stand .. risking life and limb in NY .. wonderful colorful expression .. love little Emma for sure! again .. glad to see you are back!
E.

[Pete Langley]

Yes, they`re heroines here. There would be a national strike if they tried to get rid of them. Thanks, Gene. P.

[emmajoy]

Needless to say I had to read this! And being a Brit. of course I understand your very clever and fluent flow of words.

Didn't someone say that Lollipop Ladies are amongst the strongest in the land because they hold up the traffic with just one hand!! Plus, our crossings are life.savers all and Pete, you've paid tribute to them!

[Pete Langley]

Ha ha.....our local lady is a saint to the mums and a tyrant to the drivers. She takes great pleasure in making the drivers stand on their brakes as she marches imperiously into their path! Thanks, Emma hon. P.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

either way, I would want to cross, but respect Belisha and the zebra and will patiently wait my turn.

[Pete Langley]

Hah....to save you googling, Belisha invented the Belisha zebra crossing beacon...but I think you knew that anyway, Jacob! If you didn`t....come to England ( I`ll put you up!) and I`ll show you one. P.

[icelandicblue]

Ah the lollipop lady and her stick. She was quite a ferryman and for such a very long time! This is a lovely tribute to a lady who watched over children and their safety for so many years. I really enjoyed this piece.

Like a ferryman,


she has no favourites,


allowing transit to Ford and Ferrari


only as long as Emma,


hand tightheld, satchel slung,


is still approaching….

[Pete Langley]

We have them here still, Anne!.....I think there would be a riot if they ever tried to abolish them! Thanks kindly. P.