Grandmother’s Wisdom London 1944

Gargee read the tea leaves
and often she was right ─
swirled them round in the cup
tipped them out into the light.
I’m going to die on Wednesday
she said — gave us all a fright.
If I were you I’d stay in bed
at least until Wednesday night
is over, said my mum.

Don’t be daft girl said Gargee,
I’m going out to lunch.
Oh please don’t we said – we had a hunch
but there’s nowt so daft as folk
and Dad’s ma was daft as most
so off she went in her best fur coat

to the café round the corner
as the air raid siren went.
Most trooped down to the shelter
but Gargee was intent
on having her lunch as usual.
The doodlebug’s fuel was spent.
the pilotless plane tumbled silently
and the rest is history
Gargee no longer read the tea.

 

 
This true story was written for the dVerse Poet’s Pub prompt to “to write about everyday life with an element of wonder or dotted with psychic bus stops that are sometimes unfathomable to ourselves”.