JANIICE AND THE LOST EARRING.

A BOY AND GIRL IN 1950S LONDON AND THE LOST EARRING.

She opened her hand
and revealed a blue earring
her palm was small
and lines went along it

lifeline and headline
(or so your Gran
had taught you)
is it yours?

you asked
no
Janice said
it's one of my Gran's

she said I could borrow them
but I can't find
the other one
it must have fallen out

of my dress pocket
she looked frightened
you looked
at her pink flowered dress

at the large pockets
are you sure
you didn't leave it at home?
you asked

no I had it in here
because I took them out
to look at
on the way here

she searched frantically
around the grass
where you were sitting
by Banks House

Gran's going slap
my backside for this
her thin fingers
ran over the grass

in a sweeping motion
you stood up
and walked around the area
looking for a blue object

she knelt
and searched all around
where she'd been sitting
I've got to find it

she said
it was her mother's
which way
did you come here?

the usual way
she said
sitting on her haunches
fingers to her mouth

let's go retrace
the way you came
maybe you dropped it
some place

you said
she looked doubtful
looking at you
her blue eyes wide

ok
she said
and got up
and you both walked

the way she came
and over the metal fence
and through the Square
searching the ground

as you went
Gran's last words to me
as I left were
look after it

don't loose it
and what have I done?
lost it
Janice said tearfully

you went out of the Square
and crossed over
Bath Terrace
wait

you said
and bent down
by the kerb
and picked up

a blue earring
near the drain
you showed her it
in the palm

of your inky hand
that's it
you've found it
and she kissed you

as she took it
and gripped it tightly
with the other one
o you are a life saver

she said happily
she looked at them both
and lifted them
to the morning light

you gazed at them
blue gem and gold metal
I can do with earrings
like that

you said
men don't wear earrings
she said
putting the earrings

safely in her pocket
and buttoning it up
some do
you said

Gypsies and pirates
have them
Long John Silver
has one on TV

you said earnestly
and a buccaneer
I saw in some film
about pirates

had one hanging
from his earlobe
that's different
she said

that was one earring
besides you're not a Gypsy
or a pirate
I pretend sometimes

I was Captain Morgan
the other day
and my bed
was my ship

and the sword
my old man made
me helped me fence off
the bad guys

she laughed
as you made
fencing movements
by the side of the road

anyway you can't
borrow these
she said
although you are

a life saver
and you saved my hide
from a good smacking
that's ok

you said
I think my mother's
got a few spare
I can borrow for that

and you walked up Bath Terrace
and along Harper Road
to the shop
that sold 1d pop drinks

and lollies
and you said
you'd treat her
to celebrate the finding

of the earring
and to see
if the Rob Roy book
was still in

the window
of the newspaper shop
you wanted to buy
and she took

your hand in hers
with that smile
she had
and brightness of eye.