Tear In Eye 1951 Poem by Terry Collett

Auntie took me to the hut
where the wives of army men
could meet and talk
and drink tea and eat
home-baked cakes or buns

it was quite crowded
with wives and their kids
and she saw Milly
and her daughter Elsie
and walked over to them
where they were sitting

here sit here next to me
I'll get you a tea and cake
Milly said

o thank you
Auntie said
Benny you go with Milly
and she'll get you something

so I walked with Milly
and she got me a beaker
of orange juice
and I took a cake
and she got Auntie's stuff
and we walked back

Elsie was sitting
the other side of Auntie
and stared at me
as I approached

move up Elsie
Milly said
let Benny sit down
next to his auntie

Elsie pulled a face
and moved along a seat
unhappily and sat
staring at me

I wanted to sit there
she said

it's my auntie
I said

she's my Mum's friend
and my friend
Elsie said
you're not

I sat in-between
Auntie and Elsie
she pouted and glared
with her little eyes

I'm 5 and the oldest of us
so I should sit
where I want to
she muttered

I sipped my orange juice
didn't you bring your doll?
I asked her

no it wanted to sleep
and its too noisy in here
she said

maybe I can see your doll
at sometime?
I said

no it doesn't like you
she said

I nibbled my cake
did you want some
of my cake?
I asked her
looking at her

not if you've touched it
she said

Milly moved a hand across
and slapped Elsie's leg
don't be so horrible to Benny
she said
sorry about her Benny
she's got a mood on her
Milly said
and sat back
and talked to Auntie again

Elsie pouted harder
and stared at
her reddening leg
your fault
she whispered
rubbing the redness

want to look out the window
at the parade ground
and look at the soldiers
marching by
I said

she sighed softly
suppose can
she said

we got off the chairs
and walked through
the crowded room
and across to a window
at the other end
and climbed on chairs
to look out

she held my hand
to steady herself
then let it go
and we stared out
at the ground
and at soldiers marching by

I thought I saw
a tear in her
5 year old eye.