Consolation From A Stranger Poem by Susy Evelyne

Queuing at a market stall
One November day;
Pound coin sitting in my hand,
All ready to pay.
Ready to say 'A bunch of leeks, '
Then settle up and go -
When carelessly I dropped the coin
And watched it fall below.

Down it went, tumbling
(as if propelled by fate!)
Into the dingy underworld
Of a cabbage crate,
Disappearing into the leafiness
Of Lincolnshire's prime greens
To spend some time with brassicas,
By all but me unseen.

'Oh botheration! ' I think I said,
'Now what will you do? '
Found myself another coin
And warned my neighbour in the queue.
'Be careful, I just lost a pound, '
I gushed (as a big sister to a brother) .
'Never mind, ' came his reply,
'Father Christmas will bring you another.'