Jane helped me
get the cows in
from the field
towards the farm

up the narrow
country lane
high hedgerows
birds singing

rooks above our heads
making a terrible noise
she had her black hair
tied back

with a yellow ribbon
the flowery dress
and black boots
dressed her feet

saw a wren's nest
up there
I said
indicting a place

up in the hedgerow
above
the small stream
you didn't disturb it

did you?
she said
no just saw it
and took

a mental picture
of it
she smiled
some boys about

disturb the nests
and take the eggs
for their collection
she said

they should
know better
she added
as we drove

the cows up
towards the farm track
you've taken
to the country

well for a London boy
she said
it was
a big culture shock

I said
but I like it now
she looked at me
with her dark eyes

she patted
the rear of a cow
in front of her
my mother likes you

she said
does she?
I asked
yes she says you're

different
from the other
boys about here
what's so different

about me?
I asked
you're trustworthy
Mother said

she doesn't mind me
being with you
I nodded my head
and looked

at her hands
slender
white
and the nails

well kept
she doesn't know
about the kiss?
I said

Jane smiled
no but there's
no harm in that
the kiss I mean

if Mother asked me
I’d tell her
but no harm done
I could still taste

the kiss on my lips
my lips' memory
had stored it away
for keeps

warm and wet
her lips and mine
my hand
on the small

of her back that time
we drove the cows
into the farm yard
and into

the milking sheds
where we helped
the cowmen
to set up

the machines and feed
I watched her
out of the corner
of my eye

taking in
her figure
the way she stooped
her hair

and how her hands
touched the cows gently
wishing that her hands
would touched me

as tenderly
maybe she will
I inwardly said  
taking in

her total being
into my 13 year old head.