Rachel Treacher Poet Lyric

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Irene on holiday

I get chatting with Irene in the pool. 
We both on holiday in a new country, 
The same hotel. 
Irene tells me 
How she'd worked for Cadbury’s, 
In the ‘80s. 
And I recall the factory smelling of orange creams 
As I’d cycled by on my way home. 

“It’s the first time I've flown,” she tells me,
“I've never been in a plane before. 
Aren’t the seats small!” she tells me,
“… a tiny chair to take you anywhere!” 

Irene has a daughter, Julie, living in Oldbury, 
She helped her buy her tickets online. 
“…you have to be careful on the Internet” she tells me,
“…it's literally like a web, 
I get stuck using it.” 

But it's how Irene met Adrian. 
“Four years back on bumble - 
And he's younger than I am!”  she tells me. 
He's sat in the shade under a tree drinking a pina colada.
 
Irene’s swimsuit has a big bold tropical print. 
Fun and sunshine there's enough for everyone. 
“Me - I do love it in the pool…” she tells me, 
“…but I've only just learned how to swim, 
So, the sea makes me nervous.” 

But Irene wants to see dolphins. 
So, she's booking a cabin on a cruise. 
She tells me how her brother, 
David, died of the COVID.
 How he left her some money and the dog. 
She's never had a pet before. 

I think Irene is amongst the bravest women I've met.

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