A penny for my Mammy

A penny for my Mammy

A penny for my mammy, from a bottle that I found,
Buried ‘neath an ash tip, just lying underground,
But washed and cleaned and then returned, this ragged lad could claim,
A penny for my mammy, a penny to her name.

An errand for the neighbour, a sixpence here to claim,
Some coal into the coalhouse? Or wash the window pane?
A garden to dig over would earn a shilling there,
All money, for my mammy, to show her that I care.

A penny for my mammy was precious in that day,
When wartime deprivation had swept everything away,
When nought was barely offered, full bellies hardly seen,
A penny for my mammy would represent a dream.

With only love to give me, when nothing else was there,
When ‘rationing’ ruled always, with cupboards ever bare,
But eyes would light with pleasure and life would then compound,
With a penny, for my mammy from a bottle, that I found.

Mick

( Love you Mam – sleep your rest sweetly – Give Dad a kiss from me).
xxxx. “Your babby”.