GRANDMOTHER 1917.

A BOY AND HIS GRANDMOTHER AND THE PHOTO.

Grandmother was a guard
On the underground trains
Back in 1917, you remember

Her saying, and she brought
Out this old photo of herself
In uniform standing by a train

With one leg on and one leg
Off, wearing quite kinky boots,
Although you never said about

The boots or about the rather
Sexy way she stood (well boys
Don’t, not even 15 year olds,

To their grans), and she had
Held the photo in her shaky
Hands, staring at herself many

Years before, wondering what
Happened to the young woman
There in the photograph with

The dark neatly brushed hair
Beneath the stiff official hat.
You remember Grandmother’s

Smile, the way she brushed her
Grey/white hair, the photo now
In your hands, your eyes taking

Note of her no nonsense stance,
Her dark eyes, as if she were some
Ballerina about to start the dance.