terry-collett
English
Terry Collett has been writing poetry since 1971 and prose since 1995 and stage plays in 2005. He is married with 8 children and 8 grandchildren and lives in West Sussex England. He two slim volumes of poems published in the 1970s now long since out of print. He has had both poems and stories published online and hard copy magazines since 2004. If you are interested and would like to buy one of Terry's e books please go to Amazon or Nook or Kobo where most of his e books can be obtained. The large photograph is of Terry's son Oliver who died suddenly on 27th January 2014. The profile photo is Terry. / / "We want to be poets of our life — first of all in the smallest most everyday matters." Nietzsche.
After the ball game
on the high school
playing field
Shoshana is still
sitting there
with another girl
so I go over to her
and she blushes slightly
and I say
what did you think?
she looks at me
and says
not very good
are you?
I smile
no not much
but they will
insist I play
at least you're honest
she says
I am
best way
I reply
the other girl
stands up and says
don't want to play
gooseberry see you
later Shoshana
and she walks off
something I said?
I say
no I think she finds
boys embarrassing
Shoshana says
I look at her
sitting there
dark hair
long straight
bell will ring
in a minute
she says
best get back
towards school
she stands up
and I say
where do you live?
I live a little way away
I get a school bus home
she says
so do I
I say
I know you do
she says
you get on
the same bus
as I do
I look at her
do I?
yes you've not seen me
I get on as quick
as I can
she says
I see you though
a bell rings
from school
well see you later then
I say
and she's off
leaving me there
and I wander back to school
across the grass
watching her go
her slight figure
in the afternoon sun
taking note
of her neat ***
Jul 1, 2015
Jul 1, 2015 at 2:58 AM UTC
What did that bit of skirt
want with you
this morning?
Ro asks
I look past him
outside the fence
at kids walking
onto the high school
playing field
just to talk
skirt's don't want
just to talk
they are always
after something
Ro says
want to tie you
down to something
or be their boyfriend
or something sad
like that
no just talk
and not much
of that
I say
she seemed nervous
with you
who wouldn't
and he laughs
anyway how about
a ball game?
Ok
I say
I look away from him
hoping to see
the Shoshana girl
but I don't see her
so I walk with Ro
on the field to play
and other boys
up ready to play
then I see her
sitting on the grass
with some other girl
and she waves
and I wave back
but don't go over
I'm playing ball
on the right wing
but gazing at her
was like hearing
an angel sing.
Jun 30, 2015
Jun 30, 2015 at 3:43 PM UTC
Yiska wants to take Benny home with her after school and whisk him past her mother and up to her room but she knows her mother would watch her like a hawk especially if she had Benny in tow and would ask her all sorts of questions and where do you think you are going with him? but she can dream about it dream she has brought him home and as she passes her mother in the kitchen her mother in one of her dark moods preparing dinner she climbs the stairs slowly imagining Benny is behind her walking up the stairs probably watching her legs or her *** his eyes glued but she doesn't know so she imagines he is and when she gets to the top of the stairs she pauses on the landing and looks down the stairs and waits listening to the radio her mother has just turned on some classical stuff she pauses there pretending Benny has stopped her and has put his arms around her waist and has laid his hands on her *** and she believes she can feel it his hands his fingers moving but it's in the head in her imagination but no harm in pretending so she lingers there for a short duration looking along the landing wrapping her own arms about herself kissing her shoulder don't forget to change out of your school uniform her mother calls out from below stairs I won't she calls back hugging herself extra tight patting her own *** with a hand as she hoped he would do if he were there and they were standing where she is now and put your ***** blouse in the linen basket her mother calls up ok she calls back unhugging herself walking along the landing walking past her parent's room tempted to peek in wondering if she should just a quick glimpse she stops outside her parent's room and opens the door quietly and peers inside imagining she has Benny beside her and she's showing him inside at the big double bed the tallboy the dressing table where her mother has all her make up and perfumes and drugs for her depression and hairbrushes and the mirror facing her and she says to herself-and the imagined Benny- nice bed what you reckon? make a good bed to do it in? the room smells of perfume of all kinds and a scent of bodies and staleness she is tempted to go lay on the bed and feel it beneath her and makes out they are doing things him beside her touching her and she kisses him and he putting his hand along her thigh and make sure you fold up your school skirt and jumper I don't want it just thrown anywhere her mother calls up to her from downstairs she closes the door to her parent's room and says loudly down the stairs I will fold them up and walks to her own room taking Benny’s imagined hand in hers and enters her own room and closes the door behind her and looks around the room as if through his eyes her mother has been in here and tidied up put things away picked up stuff from the floor taken away the tea plate she'd left there the night before and the soiled linen she'd let drop by the bed she stands there and sighs a window is open to let in air-breath of fresh air her mother calls it-the curtains flap in the breeze sounds from neighbours in their gardens kids from down the street she goes to the window and closes it and looks out at the surrounding area making out Benny’s still behind her his arms around her waist his lips kissing her neck she closes the curtains and stares around the room focusing on her single bed with its pink flowery cover her mother bought her Teddy Bear now ageing by her pillow not that big she says over her shoulder to the pretend Benny but we could still do it if we're careful she whispers to herself she sits on the bed and stares at her Teddy some nights he is Benny and she hugs him and kisses him and has him next to her as she settles down but Teddy's a lousy lover he does nothing and says nothing she sits the make believe Benny next to her on the bed imagines his hand is tapping the bed be ok Benny says using her voice she stands up and begins to take off her school jumper unbuttoning the green buttons and pulling off and dropping it on the bed then unties the green patterned tie and takes it off and tosses it over her shoulder she sighs closes her eyes you unbutton the blouse she tells the make believe Benny and her fingers unbutton the blouse one by one slowly and once it is unbuttoned she lets his fingers-hers really- take it off of her body and drop it onto the floor what do you think? she asks him shall l take off the skirt or you? her fingers unzip the zip and pulls it down and once loose the skirt falls to the floor and she kicks it across the room and stands there eyes closed pretending he is studying her in her small bra and ******* she waits for his words his comments what are you doing there? and why are the clothes scattered all over the place her mother says from the open door Yiska opens her eyes and stares at her mother standing sullen faced by her bedroom door day dreaming Yiska says about what? her mother asks picking up the school skirt from the floor and folding it neatly and gazing at her daughter stern eyed just day dreaming Yiska says watching her mother putting the clothes in a pile and picking the ***** blouse from the floor and holding the soiled linen in her hands this room was tidy why untidy it? her mother says sorry wasn't thinking Yiska says glad her mother couldn't read her thoughts or see the imagined Benny kissing her neck and whose right hand was fondling her right *** because if she could she'd have a fit.
Jun 30, 2015
Jun 30, 2015 at 7:39 AM UTC
Sheila can't settle her mind
to lessons
she sees only
the boy John
in her mind's eye
his words repeat themselves
each time
the teacher speaks
maths
English
double P.E
had to be
got through
until at last
it's lunchtime recess
and she can hope
to find him
on the playing field
after a rushed meal
and she stands
on the edge
of the field looking
out to see if he's there
but she can't see him
and worries that recess
will go and she won't
have seen him
she walks onto the field
and there are kids
everywhere in groups
playing ball games
and sitting here and there
then as she turns
he's there
coming towards her
hands in his pockets
walking across the grass
looking for me?
he asks
she nods and searches
through her mind
for the right words to say
been looking for you
she says
trying to put on
a face of not being
put out
but isn't succeeding
he looks at her
taking in her glasses
and large eyes
and hair pinned back
at one side
with a metal clip
well I'm here now
he says
her name's gone again
he says
what is your name?
Sheila
she says
feeling unsettled
that's it
he says
he looks back at the field
behind him at boys
kicking a ball
Rennie asked me
about a game of football
but I said I was seeing you
John says
what did he say?
she asks
said I need to see a doctor
John says
o
she says
looking at the boy
and wondering if
he wants to be there
with her
do you want to play
ball with him?
she asks
no it can wait
he says
and walks on
and she walks beside him
why doe she say
you need to see a doctor?
she asks
as they walk on
he thinks girls
are a waste of time
beside football
I see
she says
don't worry about Rennie
I want to be here
with you
you do?
sure
I wouldn't be here
otherwise
o right
she says
let's go sit up
that end near the fence
away from the others
and we can talk
he says
she nods and smiles uneasily
he's is near to her
and his hand
is mere inches from hers
and as much as
she'd like him
to hold her hand
she's frightened
that he might
o what to do
she thinks as they walk
on towards the fence
and sit on the grass
and she feels undone
yet excited
to at last be there
with him
watching him
and taking in
his hazel eyes
and quiff of hair
and glad
she's sitting there.
Jun 30, 2015
Jun 30, 2015 at 1:58 AM UTC
Red haired dame
black roots
dark brown eyes
thin lips
but smiles neat
handles the cell phone
between thin fingers
nails chewed
adding tabs
suggesting networks
that work best
thin tattooed arms
small busted
maybe less expensive
but it's better
she says
Johnny smiles
notes the small stud
in her lower lip
knows her cell phones well
that's for sure
he knows
next to nowt
just to switch
on and off
and send a text or two
and call
now and then
but it's Johnny daughter
who's buying
not he
he's just the onlooker
taking notes
for a poem
just like this
mental note as poets do
to catch the essence
before it takes flight
like some rare moth
into the night.
Jun 29, 2015
Jun 29, 2015 at 1:34 PM UTC
The school bus stops
and kids get off
and Sheila waits anxiously
by the fence
watching the kids go by
looking at the windows
looking for John
one or two girls
she knows say hello
then move on
then John descends
the steps
and she says
can I hang
around with you?
he stops by the bus
o yes it's you
sorry can't remember
your name
he says
looking at her
Sheila
she says
he walks on
and she walks
beside him
what did you mean
hang around?
he asks
just be with you
when we can
you know
lunch times if we're
on the playing field
or maybe after school
do you live far away?
she asks
they pass by the fence
and entrance
to the girls' playground
he pauses
sure if you you like
I get a school bus
to West Village
where do you live?
he asks
taking in aspects
of the girl
I live in this town
but I can get a bus
to West most days
I think
she says
hoping she can
not sure
he takes in
her dark hair
her glasses
her school tie
untidy
look I'll see you around
at lunch recess
if we're on
the field ok?
she nods
unsure what else
to say
but then says
yes look forward to it
and hopes he is too
but he walks on
and away
and doesn't look back
and she goes
in the girls' playground
on edge
unsettled
watching him
disappear from view
undecided what else
to say or do.
Jun 29, 2015
Jun 29, 2015 at 2:57 AM UTC
As she plays
the Schubert
piano piece
Yochana thinks
on Benedict
even as her mother
stands behind her
listening to her
every note
Benedict's image
fills her mind
the kiss still
feels damp
upon her lips
and cheek
and as she fingers
the Schubert
she senses her fingers
wanting to finger him
her mother says
you missed a note
you are not focusing
Yochana pauses
her fingers
over the keyboard
of black and white
senses her mother's breath
upon her neck
her mother's fingers
tapping her shoulder
and even as
she begins
to play again
it's Benedict whom
she thinks on
and his eyes she sees
in the reflection
of the piano wood
it must flow
her mother says
let Schubert speak
but Benedict's fingers
on her back
as he held her close
are all she feels
as she moves
to the music's pulse
on the piano stool
and as her mother's breath
floats upon her neck
it's his breath
she imagines
is there
and she and he
not there at the piano
but closer elsewhere.
Jun 28, 2015
Jun 28, 2015 at 2:45 AM UTC
Johnny watched
the girl
in the coffee shop
with the small tattoo
on her neck
just visible
above her collar
of the blouse
she was dressed in black
like a direttore funereo
rather than a bar girl
she had dark long hair
in a ponytail
and eyes to sink ships
or raise men's *****
he watched her
while he sipped
his large latte
taking in
each aspect
of her visible being
her ****** gestures
her smiles
her tone of voice
the skin tone
of her hands and arms
-that aspect
alone visible-
she moved
with firm intention
going about her tasks
with resolve
and ambition
but she seldom
gazed at him
or if she did
when he came in
it was a small smile
of recognition
a quick glance
as she took
his order
from the menu
and all the while
he drank her in
from strand
of dark hair
to tone of pale skin.
Jun 28, 2015
Jun 28, 2015 at 1:41 AM UTC
She was a rough dame
Johnny thought
watching her pass by
kind of girl
to take no nonsense
no lip
or give a ear a clip
bust a jaw
and give what for
but there was
an element
of beauty there
the flowing hair
the fine figure
as she walked
the burning eyes
with her backward glance
aff tae Scootlund
she said need
tae gettae wae
nae mair tae say
she said
then was off
with a turn
of her head
and Johnny watched
her go
her firm ***
big *****
***** like
bundled babes
and then out
of sight
like a bold ship
rough riding
in a dark night.
Jun 27, 2015
Jun 27, 2015 at 12:09 PM UTC
Miss G puts on Chopin
the old record player's
seen better days
one can tell
by the stylus
and the way
Miss G's finger
lifts its down
on the record
I sit at the back
of the class
with a kid named Rennie
Yochana 's at the front
with the blonde girl
-Yochana's dark hair
at shoulder length-
her fingers
pretend playing
on the desktop
her slim body
moving side to side
in the open backed chair
old tit-less thinks
she the pianist
Rennie darkly says
I'm already watching
her hands going cross
in front of her
side to side
and her slim body
captured in my inner
eye and out
and secretly
I blow kisses
at her
when no one's about.
Jun 27, 2015
Jun 27, 2015 at 2:51 AM UTC