PoetBay.com, the poetry webpage where you can publish your poems and short stories

FOR THE NEED OF HALF A CROWN!

My dad , shairde , his history with me. One childhood experience he had, very telling , story. He was poorly , very ill. Now this was long before the U K's , National Health Service
Dads father , Joe , told his daughter ,that's , dad's sister , Mary. To fetch , the doctor.
Mary , ran all the way , no home phone back then of course.
On arriving at the doctors surgery , out of breath.Gasp out , '' doctor , doctor '' , pleas come '' ''our David , not well , not well at all , sir! ''
the doctor said: '' I'll come , cost you half a crown ''
'' have you the money , girl? ''
'' I have no money , sir ''
'' me family have no money at all , sir! '' , '' our da's out of work , sir! ''
'' well , girl , ,I cant help that '' ''I will not see to your , brother , till you give me half a crown!'' , '' I'm not a charity , girl! ''

Mary , ran back home , out of breath again , tears freely running down her
checks
stammers , '' mom , da , '' doctor , says he wont come till , you gives him
half a crown ''.
granddad Joe , granny May. Not happy with the doctor , but that's the way it
were , back then.
The family had no choice , no other option , find the half a crown , or David would
die!
Davids , breathing , getting worse , breathing more and more labored
the family , tore the house apart looking , for the money
fretting , in worry , for , David. Mary , did her best , to comfort , her brother. As da and mam , searched , the house top to bottom , and back again. Till they had found , sufficient , farthings , halfpence , penny's , a threepenny bit, sixpence , a shilling! Till , the penny's found , made up half a crown!
Mary , ran again all the way , to the doctor , handed over all the coins.
The doctor , duly called , diagnose , David , had pneumonia!

For the need of half a crown , my dad , could of died!

Poetry by ken d williams