The Circle

They gave me a brand new penny

To be the last they say

For we are off to the new world

So spend it on your way

Be careful though don’t panic

Your ship is brand, spanking new

And called SS Titanic

Into my pocket it did go

It was the safest place I know

And when we arrive at the dock

Some sweeties I will buy

There was a sweet seller standing tall

But the penny had gone, in its place, a hole was installed

The penny lay there on the path

An Old sailor passing by

Alone and skint, and hungry too

So hungry he could cry

His sadness though it turned to mirth

He saw the penny, lying in the dirt

That penny bought a healthy meal

His first one for a week

How full of food his stomach did feel

Full of gravy, suet and leek

The barman grinned as he took the coin

There were plenty more for it to join

For two whole years, the penny did stay

In the back room, locked away

Kept in a box, so nobody could see

What was held for emergency

Then someone fired a gun

In Sarajevo, a war began

Five Bank Holidays were now proclaimed

Every coin was needed now for trade

And so our penny was given away

To a Fusilier, down from the Tyne

Placing it in his tunic pocket

It could not fall away

To the Somme, for three whole years

Many lost to grievous tears

Our Fusilier, a Sergeant now

Was still alive, only the Gods knew how

He took his men , over the top

And a German bullet he did stop

The young boy reached American shores

One of the lucky few

His family grew and prospered

In the World of New

His Grandson went France

In a field he found

A battered old one penny

The circle had come round