I Spy
Heading off to Calais
on a dreary day
to start a family holiday in Paris
Picture it:
Parents. Sally, Amy and pets
all crammed in with
sandwiches, biscuits, drinks, titbits and luggage
into a non-discript carriage
It starts to rain
What a shame
All of us are cooped in
The car comes to a standstill
behind a very long line of vehicles
Horns blow
We feel low
But, there’s no respite
My husband checks his watch
Drums his fingers on the dashboard
Sighs and checks his watch again
(He does this
Once every minute)
The pets are a menace
the children are bored
tempers fray
We curse the delay
Nobody wants food
But, we eat anyway
For want of something
better to do
Now, what...?
“The dog needs a walk, ” says Amy
“Are you crazy? ” asks Sally
It’s pelting down-you silly-billy! ”
“Sally! ” I warn. “That’s no way to talk to your sister.”
My husband checks his watch again
“We’ll be late -” he panics
“If we miss the ferry, ” I say philosophically, “we
miss the ferry.”
The children squabble
We adults grumble
“What should we do to pass the time? ”
“We can’t even play a board game in this confined space”
“I know, ” I cry
“Let’s play: I spy”
Not exactly novel
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poem by Nayyar Shabbir Ahmad
Added by Poetry Lover
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