Child’s Chair of Honour

She sat there with caramels
Given by Marta.
Marta and Pieter
Their fish stall for years.
Childless the couple
From Hungary arriving
Civil war, division
Betrayal and tears.
Market their business
Pieter the Buyer, gone
Toronto some days.
Marta the bedrock
Of their undertaking.
Loving the children
When they lost their way.
This one a six year old
Split from her parents.
Crying and searching
Then finally the Chair.
Caramels from Marta
And motherly comfort.
Felt like a safe place
Til parents showed there.
Young woman later
With two kids attending
Still to the Market
And Kitchener fare.
No longer Marta.
And Pieter, retiring.
Still she addresses
Sweet tale of the Chair.