Jul 2013
You took Fay
to Kennington Park
it being a fine day
and with no school
and her father
away working
and she sat
on the bus
there in her orange dress
which matched
her fair hair
tied in a ponytail
her brown sandals
and white socks
hands in her lap
her eyes large
in expectation
you sat beside her
in your checked
open neck shirt
and faded blue jeans
battered black shoes
you both swaying
to the bus’s motion
and when you got off
at the Park
she said hadn’t been
to the park before
and that her father
took them
to the park nearby
sometimes on a Sunday
after mass
if she’s been good
and could recite
the Pater Noster
right through
in Latin
without mistakes
what the heck’s
the Pater Noster?
you asked
the Lord’s Prayer
she said
the Park was busy
people everywhere
parents with kids
and without
and kids
with no parents
and she was talking
about the nuns
who taught
at her school
how strict they were
and the girl who was hit
over the knuckles
with a ruler
for not knowing
the Credo all through
you didn’t bother to ask
what that was
but saw her eyes
bright blue
and looking around
the grass and trees
and bushes
and you both sat
on the grass
and you said
your parents brought you here
on Sundays
and you watched
the cricket or played ball
and sometimes
your old man
bought ice creams
or lemonade
and she talked
of her mother
and how she
had to work hard
to please her father
and sometimes
they rowed
and sometimes he hit
her mother if the row
got out of hand
and she went quiet
and looked at you
don’t tell anyone
she said
I’m not to speak
of what goes on
indoors
I won’t say a word
you said
what about an ice cream?
you said
I haven’t any money
she said
I have
you said
my mother gave me 2/6d
for doing chores
o yes then
she said
and went with you
to the ice cream place
and ordered two
and paid the coins
and got your change
and walked along
the path
she taking hold
of your hand in hers
and you sensed
the pulse of her
through your fingers
and the sun was warm
and the sky
a bright blue
with just 12 year old Fay
and 12 year old you.
to Kennington Park
it being a fine day
and with no school
and her father
away working
and she sat
on the bus
there in her orange dress
which matched
her fair hair
tied in a ponytail
her brown sandals
and white socks
hands in her lap
her eyes large
in expectation
you sat beside her
in your checked
open neck shirt
and faded blue jeans
battered black shoes
you both swaying
to the bus’s motion
and when you got off
at the Park
she said hadn’t been
to the park before
and that her father
took them
to the park nearby
sometimes on a Sunday
after mass
if she’s been good
and could recite
the Pater Noster
right through
in Latin
without mistakes
what the heck’s
the Pater Noster?
you asked
the Lord’s Prayer
she said
the Park was busy
people everywhere
parents with kids
and without
and kids
with no parents
and she was talking
about the nuns
who taught
at her school
how strict they were
and the girl who was hit
over the knuckles
with a ruler
for not knowing
the Credo all through
you didn’t bother to ask
what that was
but saw her eyes
bright blue
and looking around
the grass and trees
and bushes
and you both sat
on the grass
and you said
your parents brought you here
on Sundays
and you watched
the cricket or played ball
and sometimes
your old man
bought ice creams
or lemonade
and she talked
of her mother
and how she
had to work hard
to please her father
and sometimes
they rowed
and sometimes he hit
her mother if the row
got out of hand
and she went quiet
and looked at you
don’t tell anyone
she said
I’m not to speak
of what goes on
indoors
I won’t say a word
you said
what about an ice cream?
you said
I haven’t any money
she said
I have
you said
my mother gave me 2/6d
for doing chores
o yes then
she said
and went with you
to the ice cream place
and ordered two
and paid the coins
and got your change
and walked along
the path
she taking hold
of your hand in hers
and you sensed
the pulse of her
through your fingers
and the sun was warm
and the sky
a bright blue
with just 12 year old Fay
and 12 year old you.
