SCOOTER RIDERS 1958

Where Gloria lies

Lydia once lay

Gloria's boyfriend

sleeps beside her

(Gloria)

& Lydia having to sleep

in the cot bed

feels the aches and pains

in a bed too small

and sits moodily

on the red tiled

front door step

gazing at the Square

chin in her small hands

pouting lips

the baker with his

horse drawn cart

goes by

the man with his boxer dog

walks on by

waves as he

is wont to do

his dog sniffing

the ground

her father's voice

sounding from indoors

her mother's voice

bellowing above his

Benny rides along

on his imaginary horse

& rides over to her

sitting there

what's up?

he asks

fed up

she replies

staring at him

my big sister

& her boyfriend

still have my bed

& I'm stuck in

the cot bed &

I ache & feel angry

& I could spit

I see

Benny says

getting off

his pretend horse

anything I can do

to help?

only if you kidnap

her boyfriend

& send him off

some place

Lydia says

what you doing

anyway?

she asks

standing up

& rubbing her behind

which had become

pins& needlely

I was going to ride

my blue scooter

but you can come

& we can share it

along & down

Rockingham Street

he says

she looks at him

& says

ok if I can

have a ride

even if it is blue

or

he says

I can ask my sister

if you can borrow

her red one

will she let me?

Lydia asks

sure to if I ask

nicely & promise

her some sweets

he says

ok

Lydia says

let's go then

so they walked up

to the flat where

Benny lives with his

parents & sister

& brother

& he asks his sister

who says yes

& so Benny & Lydia

ride off across

the Square

on the two scooters

& Benny has

(for safety against

bad cowboys)

his two 6 gun

shooters.

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