The Wannabe (Poetry)

Little Lottie in her pinny
Dreams the rainy morning through
Polishing the tarnished teaspoons
Wiping trays — so much to do
Though trade is slack late in the season
Her customers at present — two

It isn’t such a bad job really
She’s keeping busy — does her share
And the other girls are pleasant
The wages and conditions fair
But she has loftier ambitions
That transport her mind elsewhere

She has visions of a future
Oh so far away from here
The silver screen has her enchanted
Its siren voice sings sweet and clear
Telling of a life in pictures
Where longing bids her star appear

Now she imagines famous actors
Those heroes holding her in thrall
One day she’ll find her place beside them
In Hollywood — a chance is all
She hopes for as she scans the papers
And clips the ad for drama school

Old Bessie calls her from the kitchen
The lunchtime menus haven’t come
Could she fetch them from the printers? —
The clock is ticking — run girl, run!
Slips on her mac over her pinny
She’ll bide her time ... for she is young