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 Nov 2014 Mike Arms
Terry Collett
Yochana
sits beside
Angela
her best friend

Miss G plays
Beethoven
on the old
gramophone
piano piece
sonata

Yochana
likes this one
the music
stirs her up
conjures up
images
desires

Angela
looks behind
at the back
of the class

she sees them
the two boys
sitting bored
eyeing her

Rowland pokes
out his tongue
but Benny
has that smile
that hair quiff

how is she
he lip talks
Yochana?

she turns back
to the front

he's looking
she informs
Yochana
that Benny

I don't care
about him
Yochana
says softly
(not wanting
to disturb
Beethoven)

but she does
she senses
his hazel
eyes touching
her body

bringing out
hot flushes
distracts her
emotions
from music

Beethoven
(poor Ludwig)
pushed aside

and she feels
Benny’s eyes
hazel warm
look inside.
BOYS AND GIRLS IN A SCHOOL MUSIC LESSON IN 1962
 Nov 2014 Mike Arms
Ashley Nicole
It's hard to say
When the first onset
Of insecurities
Had taken place

Was it at 17?
When I stared deep
Into the mirror
Despising the reflection?

Was it at 15?
When I dug my fingernails
Into the side of my thigh
When he made me feel like used garbage?

Was it at 13?
When I showed
My mom that award
And it was carelessly tossed on the table?

Was it at 11?
When the snickers
Of my classmates
Reached my heart?

Was it at 9?
When I watched
Mother try to desperately
Cover her imperfections with powder?

Self love?
Self love?
Self love can't dwindle away
When it never existed.

And now at the age
Of barely 20,
I've been searching
The ground
For a speck
Of confidence
And trying my best
To piece together
A backbone
That I never had.
 Nov 2014 Mike Arms
Terry Collett
Lizbeth waited for me
by the milk sheds
(I’d been weighing milk
at the farm)

she was dressed
in a black skirt
and green blouse
her hair loose
about her shoulders

thought you'd never
be out
she said

how did you know
I was here?
I asked

your mum told me
when I called
at the cottage

I didn't know
you were coming
out here
in the countryside
to see me

thought I’d
surprise you
she said
didn't know
you'd be
at the farm

I do it
when I can

how can you be
near cows
they smell
she looked at me
critically
I thought
we could go
somewhere together
she said

what for?
I asked

you know
she said

don't you ever
give up on that?
I said

on what?

you know

she smiled
must be some place
we can be alone
she said

I can't think
of anywhere
I said

what about
your bedroom?

you have been
there before
I said

yes I know
but only to see
your fossils
and rabbit skulls
and butterfly collection
and Spitfire model
she said

I walked on
she followed

we could have
done things
she said

we did
we looked
at my nature collection

I didn't want
to see
your nature collection
I wanted ***
she said loudly

a few birds
flew from the hedge
the word echoed
around the fields
about us
like thunder

maybe some
other day or time
I said
I got to home
and change
out of these clothes

she followed me moodily
through the small wood

I walked quickly
or she'd want ***
there
if she could.
A BOY AND GIRL IN A SUSSEX COUNTRYSIDE IN 1961
 Nov 2014 Mike Arms
Terry Collett
They were dropped off
at the church
like the others
ready for choir practice

but they held back
and crept into
the front porch
to be alone
for a few moments

the voices
of the others
died down and away

Yehudit gazed out
into the evening sky
feeling Benny near her
you do love me
don't you?
she asked

sure I do
why ask?
he said

you seemed
distant today
at school
and when I looked over
at you in class
you looked away

he gazed at her
outline in the door way
of the porch
you know
how it is
Rowland was saying
how's your love life?
and all that stuff
and I was trying
to make it seem
I didn't have one
and wanted
just be free
of his words
and jest
I guess

she looked back
at him
aren't I worth
getting jest about?
if you loved me
it wouldn't matter
she said

I know
you're right
but us guys
are stupid at times
we don't think
in your league

girls like
to be seen
to be loved
not just words
she said

a bell rang
from the tower

must go
she said

wait
he said
look I’m sorry
I made a mistake
I do love you
and it's more
than words

she walked out
of the porch
and into the evening
semi-dark
looked at the stars
and moon

the next time
I look at you
in class
at least smile
at me
she said

sure I will
he said

she kissed his cheek
and ran off
around the back

and he stood
watching the moon
and stars

and her footsteps
faded into the night
and he thought
she's right.
A BOY AND GIRL BY A CHURCH IN 1962
 Nov 2014 Mike Arms
Terry Collett
What people say
or do

is of less interest
to me

than why
they do

or say
what they do.

The psychology
behind

words
and deeds.
ON THE PSYCHOLOGY OF IT ALL.
 Nov 2014 Mike Arms
Terry Collett
That was the night
I dreamed of Yiska

and she met me
at the back
of the cottage
by the woods

and it seemed summer
it was warm
birds sang
and flowers
were showing off
their colour
and perfume

and she stood there
and smiled and said
I made it here
what do you think?

good to see you
I said

and it was
and I ran to her
before she could
disappear as they do
in dreams

and she kissed me
and it felt real
and warm
and arousing

and we walked
into the woods
and she talked
about her
mother's depression
and how her mother
moaned about
the untidiness
of her room

I thought yes
she is here
and I reached
for her hand
and held it
and felt
with my thumb
her skin

it felt pulsing
and alive
and she talked more
but I wasn't listening

I was trying
to feel her hand
deeper
more alive
than most dreams

and then we stopped
and we were by
the big pond

and she said
let's go swim
let's go swim
**** naked

and I thought
I can't swim
I’ll drown

and woke up
and pulled
the warm
blanket down.
A BOY'S DREAM OF A GIRL IN 1962.
 Nov 2014 Mike Arms
Terry Collett
John is there
by the fence
arms folded
looking up
at the sky

Elaine feels
very shy
wants to speak
to be near
to feel safe

he sees her
waves to her

she blushes
walks over

you OK?
he asks her

I’m all right
she mutters
looking round
for others
who may see
both of them
together

but none seems
to notice
or to care
that she's there

let's walk on
she tells him
on the field
of the school

they move on
together
she feels his
hand brushing
against hers
electric
sensation
flows through her

beating heart
pumping blood
all around
her body

she stops him
holds his hand
feels his pulse

they tease me
the others
other girls
other boys
she tells him

why is that?
he asks her

they call me
the Frump
the sexless
old granny

you're not that
he tells her
not a frump
(he doesn't
known if she
is sexless
doesn't say)
you are you
a sweet girl
a bit shy

he goes on
talking words

but his hand
is in hers
she senses
the warmth there

the fingers
touching hers
pulsing life

electric
a love feel
running there
not a trick.
A BOY AND GIRL AND FEELING LIFE AND LOVE IN 1962
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