ABC WEDNESDAY
http://abcwednesdayround3.blogspot.com/
Letter 'Q'
QUEUING!
A word well-known to the British but Americans say 'line'*
So 'Queue Here' would be useless if written on a sign!
I think it started in The War, when there was little food,
And pushing to the counter was considered rather rude.
And here we see a quite pathetic Evacuation Queue,
As little children stand in lines, not knowing what to do.
The expression on the girl's face says it all, it seems to me:
'Where are you Mum?' her eyes say 'I'll be brave as I can be.'
Gas-masks at the ready, one suitcase (one allowed)
Little children swallowed-up in a very alien crowd.
They couldn't really understand that a World War had begun.
(I know all about it....... I was one.)
*
* Note: maybe the word is used in other parts of America, but when I used it in San Francisco I was looked at blankly!. It's pronounced 'cyoo'.
*
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UP FOR GRABS!
(An Acrostic)
(An Acrostic)
Uncles, Aunties, Mums and Dads,
Pensioners with incontinence pads(!)
*
Frequently become more fragile,
Often rather less than agile......
Respecting geriatric needs,
*
Government harkens, Government heeds,
Rendering assistance transport-wise;
Allocating a card we prize,
Allocating a card we prize,
Boon to those who find life hard!
Senior Citizens! Grab this card!
*
11 comments:
Glad we don't have anymore necessary Queues, we have enough lines here as it is! Love your Up For Grabs!! Enjoy the rest of your week, Brenda!
Sylvia
Funny how those across the pond don't use perfectly normal words like Queue!
Great choice of letter Q! Happy Wednesday!
ABC Wednesday~Q
Believe it or not I actually use the word sometimes. Perhaps there is some English blood in me somewhere. (:0)
Oh, the word is definitely in my vocabulary, - must be my English heritage. Love UP FOR GRABS - thank you for a great post.
Great idea and poem for Q. Love the photo as well!
I'm American, but I always thought that the queue was better than the line.
ROG, ABC Wednesday team
I only know this word. This picture is so touching ! I knew that too how terrible it was for all civilians.
Oh, gosh, every time I see a picture of the evacuation of children my heart is wrung. What a terrible time it was for families! I cannot imagine sending my children off to who-knows-where, and goodness'-knows-who, for an indefinite amount of time.
What a heartbreaking scene. Your words, however, are perfect.
Such a beautifully bitter-sweet post for Q. It's perfect. In Swedish the word for queue is "ko" (the "o" has an umlaut) which means that it is either a loan from English or that both have taken this word from the same source. (Sorry, I haven't hade time to research this.)
I love everything you write. This latest post is a well-balanced mix of social history, personal history (very low-key) and just a way with words that is inspiring.
I am working on a text about my parents and their lives overshadowed by the same war that you have written about here. It's not a poetic text, just a straightforward account of some aspects of their lives and how the times influenced their fates. So I'll keep you in mind when I write.
Best wishes,
Anna
http://annasadornments.blogspot.com/2010/05/q-as-in-quilts-quartz-abc-wednesday.html
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