School Trip

by Ceinwen Haydon, with image by Steev Burgess

Mam   can I go   please can I go   please   all my friends are

another note from school   her heart sinks   makes her think
what's the point – her wee girl's face aglow with hope
still too young to know their life's constrained by cash flow

another note from school   her heart sinks   makes her think
eight years since bright intentions blessed her daughter's cradle
still too young to know their life's constrained by cash flow
now misfortune ladles out thin soup/holed soles and loneliness

eight years since bright intentions blessed her daughter's cradle
problems unsolved by zero hours contracts and suspended benefits
now misfortune ladles out thin soup/holed soles and loneliness
how can she budget   save nothing from nothing and say of course

problems unsolved by zero hours contracts and suspended benefits
what's the point. Her wee girl's face aglow with hope,
How can she budget, save nothing from nothing and say of course

Mam/can I go/please can I go/please/all my friends are