Mam Made Jam Butties

Mam Made Jam Butties

Mam made jam butties for our pic nic

we had no meat no cakes to share

she wrapped them in paper soft and thin

and smiled like there was plenty there

We sat on the grass our knees in the sun

drank water from a bottle passed round

the bread stuck to my teeth sweet and thick

and the jam ran slow without a sound

Other folk had crisps and pies

their flasks poured tea their cloths were neat

we had crumbs on our laps and sticky hands

and bare feet on the dusty street

We laughed at nothing and played all day

the wind in our hair the smell of rain

our world was small but it was ours

and we never thought to complain

Mam’s hands were rough from all the work

her dress was old and seams were thin

yet when she watched us she looked rich

like she held gold somewhere within

I still taste that jam when I close my eyes

see the field the sky the worn out shoes

poor as we were we had our time

there was nothing I would choose to change.