January 8, 2014

 

 

‘Shufty along’ she said

in a broad, husky dialect.

So I did as she asked

out of polite respect.

 

She then plonked herself

down with her old tatty bags,

and with a toothless smile,

asked if I had any fags.

 

‘I’m afraid not’ I said,

‘I have never smoked’;

She looked the type to

thump folks, if provoked.

 

I felt her strong glare,

so stared straight ahead,

hoping the conversation

could now be dead.

 

But then I softened,

when I needed to stand,

and placed some money

into her hand.

 

Thinking ‘there, but for

the grace of god, go I’.

I watched her smile return,

as I bade her goodbye.

 

When I arrived at the office,

my tale started a debate.

Some said I was crackers,

and me did berate.

 

Others said she would blow it

on ciggies and wine.

My reply to most of them was,

‘so when you do that, it’s fine?

 

A few fell silent,

they knew who they were.

It’s not just the down and outs

who excessive habits share.

 

The conversation got heated,

a guy said ‘You’ll see her tomorrow’,

‘I bet she gets on the same bus.

You’ve just bought yourself sorrow’.

 

There’s no right and wrong answer,

to what I did, that seems clear.

We all just go with our gut feeling,

when those moments appear.

 

 

 

 

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