The milkman
let me and Helen
ride on the back
of his horse-drawn
milk wagon
through the Square
stopping here and there
to deliver milk
and eggs
and orange juice
Helen had got caught
in a downpour
of rain
and her thick lens
spectacles
were smeary
where she had wiped them
on her dress
her hair
had been plaited
into two plaits
over her shoulders
soggy looking
ought to
go back home
and change out
of the wet stuff
I said
or you'll catch
yourself a cold
Mum's out
Helen said
gone shopping
up the Cut
with the others
the milk wagon
moved on
the horse trotting
slowly forward
the man with a boxer dog
walked by
and gave us
a stare
sitting there
you could go
to my flat
my mum'll
find you
something dry
I said
I’ll be all right
Helen said
I'll dry out
the milkman
stopped again
and we got off
and walked through
the side
of the flats
and crossed Bath Terrace
and into Jail Park
you sure
you're all right?
I said
your dress
is clinging
to your legs
she pulled the dress
from her legs
I’ll be ok
so we went
into the area
where the swings
and slide were
and got on
the swings
for big kids
and pushed ourselves
high into the air
holding on
to the chains
at the side
our shoes trying
to touch
the grey clouds
then we went
on the slide
but Helen got stuck
half way
because her wet dress
held her there
so she climbed down
and we walked back
to my flat
where my mother
got her some
dry clothes
of my sister's
and put Helen’s clothes
in front of the fire
to dry
and we watched
the steam rise
from them
into the sitting room air
as we sat
on the sofa
with our bemused stare.
Apr 30, 2014
Apr 30, 2014 at 4:50 PM UTC
The milkman
let me and Helen
ride on the back
of his horse-drawn
milk wagon
through the Square
stopping here and there
to deliver milk
and eggs
and orange juice
Helen had got caught
in a downpour
of rain
and her thick lens
spectacles
were smeary
where she had wiped them
on her dress
her hair
had been plaited
into two plaits
over her shoulders
soggy looking
ought to
go back home
and change out
of the wet stuff
I said
or you'll catch
yourself a cold
Mum's out
Helen said
gone shopping
up the Cut
with the others
the milk wagon
moved on
the horse trotting
slowly forward
the man with a boxer dog
walked by
and gave us
a stare
sitting there
you could go
to my flat
my mum'll
find you
something dry
I said
I’ll be all right
Helen said
I'll dry out
the milkman
stopped again
and we got off
and walked through
the side
of the flats
and crossed Bath Terrace
and into Jail Park
you sure
you're all right?
I said
your dress
is clinging
to your legs
she pulled the dress
from her legs
I’ll be ok
so we went
into the area
where the swings
and slide were
and got on
the swings
for big kids
and pushed ourselves
high into the air
holding on
to the chains
at the side
our shoes trying
to touch
the grey clouds
then we went
on the slide
but Helen got stuck
half way
because her wet dress
held her there
so she climbed down
and we walked back
to my flat
where my mother
got her some
dry clothes
of my sister's
and put Helen’s clothes
in front of the fire
to dry
and we watched
the steam rise
from them
into the sitting room air
as we sat
on the sofa
with our bemused stare.
BOY AND GIRL IN 1950S LONDON.
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