Guriel said I should join
the Scout Movement
we have lots of fun
we set up our tent

go collect firewood
from the woods
light fires
with two sticks of wood

rubbed together
eat beans and sausages
cooked over
a camp-fire

drink tea or coffee
cooked in a big ***
stuck in the fire
sitting around

the camp fire
singing songs
and also how
to tie and untie knots

we crossed
St George’s Road
on the way home
from school  

what do you think?
he added
after a moment's silence
from me

do you know
the plague of London
in 1665
was probably started

by rats carrying the fleas
that brought the Plague
getting off ships
I said

Old man Fin
told us
in history today
I know

said Guriel
I was there
where in London in 1665?
I said jokingly

no in class
when Mr Fin
was telling us
we went down

the subway
our voices echoing
along the walls
so what about

joining the Scouts?
he asked
no not my scene
I said

I’d rather pick lice
from Zimra's head
but it's good
Guriel said

all boys together
no pesky girls about
spoiling our fun
O well that spoils it for me

I said
no girls no deal
Guriel frowned
they have their own group

it's called Girl Guides
or Brownies
if they're young girls
he said

maybe I’ll join the Guides
I said
you can't
it's for girls only

we came out
on the New Kent Road
O well
that's me stuffed then

I said
but it'll make a man of you
Guriel said
you can join

one of the armed services
when you leave school
no thanks
I said

my old man said
it was the worse days
of his life in the army
I’d rather work in a garage

or theatre sell ice creams
in the cinema
we stopped
at the corner

of Meadow Row
well if you change your mind
he said
it's over

by the church hall
over there
he said
and he walked off

and I walked down
Meadow Row
thinking about
my mother's meat pie

watching
a swooping
black bird
in the afternoon sky.