To Rose, Who Loved Them All - Joan Raleigh

Nowadays there’s few men who
remember back to the old 50’s
when they’d sit in groups
astride their Ariels, Nortons,
A.J.S and Triumphs along the ‘front’.
They’d watch the evening orbit in town
of girls passing up the Pollet and down
the High Street, and turning then
sashay slowly along the ‘front’ again.

And Rosie was there, bewitching them all
with her hearing honed for a wolf-whistle call.
Though to those that Rose took a fancy to
she’d say: “Okay darlin’, just a fag will do!”
And when some nights the Navy was in,
Rose would be happy and welcoming.
With less pay in their hips
they’d go back aboard ships
at sea with Rose on their minds,

But time must move on,
and all good things must pass,
and Rosie retired growing tomatoes in glass.
But men would think, with wistful sighs
how eager Rose was to gratify.
Though still the Navy came and hove to,
her crew looked for other pleasures to do.
She remembered the fun and the buckshee fag
while having a Senior Service drag.

Joan Raleigh