Magdalene's
parents row
she hears them
from her room
nightly fights
loud voices
hands slapping
she turns up
her tiny
transistor
radio
and listens
ear up close
to some song
by Elvis
she's undressed
soiled linen
cast aside
short nightie
a lush pink
she then thinks
of Mary
on this bed
hours back
listening
to LPs
on her small
hi-fi box
both smoking
sipping slow
some borrowed
of ma's gin
Mary said
that idjit
boy Brian
tried to get
his **** leg
over me
but I said
go **** sheep
they both laughed
huddled close
Magdalene
put her hand
on Mary's
naked knee
moved upward
Mary said
go ahead
still rowing
downstairs
her parents
her da's voice
thundering
through the floor
her ma's voice
soprano
counterpoints
his tenor
as if in
opera
by Verdi
Magdalene
gets in bed
says her prayers
(old routine)
then lays down
in the dark
(light turned out)
dreaming of
Mary's lips
Mary's hands
Mary's hips
Mary's eyes
letting out
in slow breath
her deep sighs.
Jan 9, 2016
Jan 9, 2016 at 2:41 AM UTC
Magdalene's
parents row
she hears them
from her room
nightly fights
loud voices
hands slapping
she turns up
her tiny
transistor
radio
and listens
ear up close
to some song
by Elvis
she's undressed
soiled linen
cast aside
short nightie
a lush pink
she then thinks
of Mary
on this bed
hours back
listening
to LPs
on her small
hi-fi box
both smoking
sipping slow
some borrowed
of ma's gin
Mary said
that idjit
boy Brian
tried to get
his **** leg
over me
but I said
go **** sheep
they both laughed
huddled close
Magdalene
put her hand
on Mary's
naked knee
moved upward
Mary said
go ahead
still rowing
downstairs
her parents
her da's voice
thundering
through the floor
her ma's voice
soprano
counterpoints
his tenor
as if in
opera
by Verdi
Magdalene
gets in bed
says her prayers
(old routine)
then lays down
in the dark
(light turned out)
dreaming of
Mary's lips
Mary's hands
Mary's hips
Mary's eyes
letting out
in slow breath
her deep sighs.
AN IRISH GIRL IN TIPPERARY IN BED IN 1963 THINKING OF HER DAY
