Waterloo Bag Lady

by Maria Garner

1

Her overweight frame

tied up in an old coat

blocks the doorway.

She smiles a toothless smile;

bids you have a nice day.

Wind blows long grey hair

into her clown red lips

she pulls it away with a grubby hand

looks straight at me.

Spare a copper for an old ‘un luv?

Her face is only inches away.

Dropping a few coins in her palm

I try to get past without touching.

She pulls me back, squeezing my arm.

You have a kind face, talk to me a while

–it gets lonely here.

2

Fancy a cup of tea?

I hear myself say. Why not?

I had two hours to wait

for my train. She led me

to the Black Cat Tea Room.

Before my eyes

she changed into Annie–

someone with a past, a future

and a wicked sense of humour.