Gale's Medal Poem by Terry Collett

Gale shows me
a medal
in the palm
of his hand

circular
discoloured
old ribbon

my granddad's
he tells me
he left it
in his will
it's mine now

can I hold?
I ask him

sure you can

I hold it
in my palm
it's warm now
where his skin
has warmed it

King George V
image there
an old guy
grey bearded

your granddad?
I ask him
my finger pointing
at the guy

that's the King
at the time
he tells me
though Granddad
was like that
to look at

I hand him
the medal

he holds it
in his palm

the school bell
rings loudly
the playground
then erupts
then settles
into lines

Gale pockets
the medal
in the dark
sweaty warmth
of his thigh

out of sight
of my eye.