Anne crutched her way
through the narrow path
and back gate behind you
on to the side path
that led to the beach
the sky was overcast
she moved up beside you
as you stood there
looking at the horizon
look at the sea
and sky and gulls
Skinny Boy
look at that wildness
breathe in the air
she said
fill your bloody lungs
with it
you breathed in deeply
smell of sea salt
filled you
if I had both my legs
I’d go out there
and swim
she said
she moved forward
until her foot
and crutches
touched the start
of the sand
come on Boy
breath it in
you breathed in
deep again
she stood there
her green skirt
billowing in the wind
her dark hair
blown about
this is fucking life
this is it
all I want now
is a tall ship
to sail her by
or so
the bloody poet
said somewhere
she said
you looked at her
standing like
some captain
of a ship
her skirt rising
and falling
carried by the wind
now and then
her stump showed
and her other thigh
with her white leg
what do you think Boy?
good huh?
yes
you said
breezy and fresh
you stood
trying to keep
your balance
your short trousers
moving in the breeze
the white tee shirt flapping
she crutched herself
onto the sand more
you followed
moving near her
she gripped
the crutches firm
we found that fish
on the beach
up there
you said
she looked
where you pointed
yes and they cooked it
for dinner next day
she said
and it was fucking rank
you laughed
and she grinned
it was up there
by that wave breaker
that you kissed me
she said
you made me
you replied
well you enjoyed it
didn’t you?
you nodded
the wind
carried her voice away
her words
were broken up
individual words
came here
and there
then away again
she looked up
at the darkening sky
o hell
she said
here comes
the pissing rain.