There May Be Chocolate 3

 There May Be Chocolate

I’m still four years old, inside,

Skipping round the corner in

My yellow Japanese dress,

With kick pleats, made by Mum.

First day at school, outraged that

Writing ‘LYNNE’ in capitals was called ‘Wrong’ when my Dad had taught me. 

I can still feel, visceral, my clenched fists. 

Learning French at seven, via

TV lessons read by ‘Lyne’.

I am still that twelve- year- old,

Amazed, in Bruges, to get free chocolates

For speaking French, regardless of mistakes.

I am still that young engineer

Ready to travel  the world,

To ride a motorbike, scuba dive and fly a plane,

Whose train set was the Channel Tunnel,

Still a writer, artist, demon crocheter.

I am the woman who’s had the greatest good fortune

To fall for the kindest man in the world,

To have loyal friends, family and godkids,

A crazy cat woman who’ll have a go

At speaking a dozen languages, because

Always, somewhere, there may be chocolate.

 

LM Collis 7 Oct 2021 updated Sept 2025