Wimbledon – Game, Set and Match

Marching, swaggering, at the head of his troops.
Arms swinging, rifles gleaming, in perfect stride.
The people all smiling, waving, some even crying,
For they all knew we were back from Dunkirk,
Now to rest, retrain on Wimbledon Common.

The assistants of that posh hairdressing salon,
Leaned out of the window of the first floor,
They waved and smiled like everyone else-
So many faces, intermingled in one vision.

Then I saw her, that beautiful face standing out;
Encircled by luscious, shining auburn hair.
A Goddess right there, on Wimbledon High Street,
I knew I was possessed by that lovely creature.

Searching in vain each time I was free,
Waiting, spying, trying in any way to meet her.
Then one day on guard duty I saw her-
Cycling along, head in the air, enjoying her ride,
That beautiful hair out-shining the sun.

This vision came slowly towards me,
So I stepped out, demanding she stop.
She was startled and furious that
A soldier should accost a civilian.
Taken aback, I thought I had blown it.

Quickly rethinking my unsubtle approach,
I smiled and explained that I thought I knew her,
Having seen her looking down from above the shop,
But I now knew that I was mistaken –
That other person did not possess her beauty.

So please could I make up for my silly mistake?
And escort her to tea, coffee, cinema, anything?
She stared at me harshly ” what a damn cheek!”,
Looking over her shoulder as she cycled away,
She smiled and said ” I’m free tomorrow, I leave the shop at one”.
So I went back on Guard Duty, another job well done.

In Loving Memory Of My Wonderful Wife, Gwen.