You walked the bomb site
with Benny,
he was relating
about some gunslinger
he'd seen at the flicks
and how the gunslinger
had his guns different
from other gunslingers
he'd seen,
with guns back to front
so that he had
to cross his hands
over to reach guns
from different holsters.
You listened as you often did
to his talk on guns
and gunslingers
and cowboy films
he'd seen.
He bent down
and picked up a stone
for his catapult
which he had
in the back pocket
of his jeans.
You told him
about your young brother
and how your mother
wanted you to hold him steady
while she changed his *****
and how he kicked his legs,
and how hard it was
to hold him there,
and your mother saying:
Hold him steady
while I get
his clean ***** on.
Benny weighed the stone
in the palm of his hand,
then put it in his pocket.
So did you managed
to hold him?
Benny said.
You looked past him
as a copper walked
towards you both.
Copper, you said.
Benny turned
and stood beside you.
What are you doing here?
the copper said.
Looking for ammunition,
Benny said.
Ammunition?
the copper said.
Stones for my catapult,
Benny said.
Bomb sites
are dangerous places,
so clear off,
the copper said.
You stared nervously
at the copper.
But I need stones,
Benny said.
I don't care
if you are looking
for the Crown Jewels,
the copper said,
sling your hook.
You followed Benny
off the bomb site
into Meadow Row.
The copper stood
watching you,
hands at his sides.
Let's go to the other
bomb site,
Benny said,
up off the other side
of the Square.
You looked back
at the copper
still standing there.
©
Mar 8, 2018
Mar 8, 2018 at 7:00 AM UTC
You walked the bomb site
with Benny,
he was relating
about some gunslinger
he'd seen at the flicks
and how the gunslinger
had his guns different
from other gunslingers
he'd seen,
with guns back to front
so that he had
to cross his hands
over to reach guns
from different holsters.
You listened as you often did
to his talk on guns
and gunslingers
and cowboy films
he'd seen.
He bent down
and picked up a stone
for his catapult
which he had
in the back pocket
of his jeans.
You told him
about your young brother
and how your mother
wanted you to hold him steady
while she changed his *****
and how he kicked his legs,
and how hard it was
to hold him there,
and your mother saying:
Hold him steady
while I get
his clean ***** on.
Benny weighed the stone
in the palm of his hand,
then put it in his pocket.
So did you managed
to hold him?
Benny said.
You looked past him
as a copper walked
towards you both.
Copper, you said.
Benny turned
and stood beside you.
What are you doing here?
the copper said.
Looking for ammunition,
Benny said.
Ammunition?
the copper said.
Stones for my catapult,
Benny said.
Bomb sites
are dangerous places,
so clear off,
the copper said.
You stared nervously
at the copper.
But I need stones,
Benny said.
I don't care
if you are looking
for the Crown Jewels,
the copper said,
sling your hook.
You followed Benny
off the bomb site
into Meadow Row.
The copper stood
watching you,
hands at his sides.
Let's go to the other
bomb site,
Benny said,
up off the other side
of the Square.
You looked back
at the copper
still standing there.
©
