There's roundabouts
and bumper-cars
and a big wheel
and a coconut stall
Ingrid said
and a rifle range
I said
I won a goldfish
in a plastic bag
here once
on the rifle range
we were at the fairground
on the bomb site
by Meadow Row
bright lights
and noise
and laughter
and people shouting
and girls screaming
and music blaring
out of speakers
she was excited
to be there
her brown eyes
lit up
like fireworks
her brown hair
pinned back
at the sides
with hair grips
got to have a go
on the big wheel
she said
I want to go on
the coconut stall
I said
have you money?
yes
she said
2/-
your old man
give it to you?
no my uncle
gave it me
why's that?
I asked
as we gazed
around the fair
I do things for him
she said
as we approached
the big wheel
can't say what
it's out secret
my uncle said
I nodded grimly
and we climbed
on board
the big wheel together
and off it went
up in the evening sky
the Elephant and Castle
beneath us
our flats visible
because the Square lights
were on
the area was like
it had been bombed
over night
rather than
about 15 years
before
look at that
she said
pointing
and I followed her finger
and saw the horizon
of lights
and it was like
an explosion
of brightness
which brightened up
this best of all nights.
Nov 24, 2014
Nov 24, 2014 at 2:14 AM UTC
There's roundabouts
and bumper-cars
and a big wheel
and a coconut stall
Ingrid said
and a rifle range
I said
I won a goldfish
in a plastic bag
here once
on the rifle range
we were at the fairground
on the bomb site
by Meadow Row
bright lights
and noise
and laughter
and people shouting
and girls screaming
and music blaring
out of speakers
she was excited
to be there
her brown eyes
lit up
like fireworks
her brown hair
pinned back
at the sides
with hair grips
got to have a go
on the big wheel
she said
I want to go on
the coconut stall
I said
have you money?
yes
she said
2/-
your old man
give it to you?
no my uncle
gave it me
why's that?
I asked
as we gazed
around the fair
I do things for him
she said
as we approached
the big wheel
can't say what
it's out secret
my uncle said
I nodded grimly
and we climbed
on board
the big wheel together
and off it went
up in the evening sky
the Elephant and Castle
beneath us
our flats visible
because the Square lights
were on
the area was like
it had been bombed
over night
rather than
about 15 years
before
look at that
she said
pointing
and I followed her finger
and saw the horizon
of lights
and it was like
an explosion
of brightness
which brightened up
this best of all nights.
ON GOING TO THE FAIRGROUND WITH A GIRL IN 1950S LONDON.
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