A PRICE TOO HIGH

A PRICE TOO HIGH 

Maureen Clifford © The Scribbly Bark Poet 02/13 

When the fair came to town there was music and laughter,

and bright dodgem cars and the carousel swings;

bright pink  fairy floss, hot dogs, strawberry ice creams

and horses and chickens and other great things.

And lost in the noise and the madness and mayhem

stood one grubby urchin with tears on his face;

a little boy lost in the crowds of the funfair

who wanted his mother, and out of this place.

When the fair came to town there were flags all a- waving

and cries of ’hurrah!’ and loud cheers from the town.

The men marched right proudly in perfect formation

all ready to fight for king, country and crown.

And lost in the noise and the madness and mayhem

a heartbroken Mother sobbed soft in despair,

for though she was proud of those fine men before her

‘twas her only boy who she watched marching there.

Now the fair came to town for the war drums were silent

and cries of ‘hurrah!’  rang out over the square.

The band played, the crowd cheered, the men marched, not briskly

but somewhat more ragged and bowed down with care.

And lost in the noise and the madness and mayhem

with ticker tape fluttering down from the sky,

one thin wraithlike figure was pushed in a wheelchair;

he’d only one leg now, and only one eye.

His last time at the fair he had stood hale and hearty,

so worried  his mother would be left alone,

for there was no other to care for this woman;

whose husband was killed at the Battle of Somme .

And sitting ‘midst noise and the madness and mayhem

was one damaged urchin who’d never more roam;

now pushed like a babe once again by his Mother

who stood tall and proud as she took her boy home.