Fay met me
off the bus
after school
she looked pleased
to see me
her hair
was bunched up
in a ponytail
her school uniform
looked well worn
how was your day?
she asked
boring
I said
being educated
by the unwilling
to the uninterested
and Old Thompson
was as cruel as ever
we walked along
to the crossing
and crossed
how was your day?
I asked
how were the nuns?
it was about suffering today
she said
Sister Bede said
suffering was a gift
from God
it was our way
to suffer
for the souls
in Purgatory
so that they
may be freed
sounds kind of dark
I said
what do you mean?
she said
well that God
should give suffering
as a gift
so that it might
free others
from this Purgatory place
some of the saints
have been honoured
to have been chosen
to suffer
she said
we passed
the greengrocer shop
I looked in the window
the young guy
was serving
some old dame
with potatoes
I suffer from boils
on the *** sometimes
does that count?
I asked
does that get
some soul
out of Purgatory
she looked perplexed
I guess so
she said
ask the nuns tomorrow
if boils on the ****
count
she smiled
don't think I will
she said
we passed
the public house
the smell of beer
oozed out
from the open door
Daddy said
that these places
are the roosting places
of the ******
plenty of ****** then
on a Saturday night
I said
pretty packed
when I passed
on my way
to the cinema
last week
I guess
we should pray
for them
she said
Sister Bede said
our prayers
are worth more
than gold
do you pray?
she asked
only for the school
to fall down
or Thompson
to catch leprosy
I said
she frowned
that's not good
she said
we should pray
for good things
to happen
I liked her hair
and eyes
especially when
she gazed at me
as she spoke
her bright eyes
warming me
against the cold
ok
I said
I suppose
I could
we walked on
and across
Rockingham Street
I liked her
careful way
of walking
and her fine
small feet.
Nov 25, 2014
Nov 25, 2014 at 6:57 AM UTC
Fay met me
off the bus
after school
she looked pleased
to see me
her hair
was bunched up
in a ponytail
her school uniform
looked well worn
how was your day?
she asked
boring
I said
being educated
by the unwilling
to the uninterested
and Old Thompson
was as cruel as ever
we walked along
to the crossing
and crossed
how was your day?
I asked
how were the nuns?
it was about suffering today
she said
Sister Bede said
suffering was a gift
from God
it was our way
to suffer
for the souls
in Purgatory
so that they
may be freed
sounds kind of dark
I said
what do you mean?
she said
well that God
should give suffering
as a gift
so that it might
free others
from this Purgatory place
some of the saints
have been honoured
to have been chosen
to suffer
she said
we passed
the greengrocer shop
I looked in the window
the young guy
was serving
some old dame
with potatoes
I suffer from boils
on the *** sometimes
does that count?
I asked
does that get
some soul
out of Purgatory
she looked perplexed
I guess so
she said
ask the nuns tomorrow
if boils on the ****
count
she smiled
don't think I will
she said
we passed
the public house
the smell of beer
oozed out
from the open door
Daddy said
that these places
are the roosting places
of the ******
plenty of ****** then
on a Saturday night
I said
pretty packed
when I passed
on my way
to the cinema
last week
I guess
we should pray
for them
she said
Sister Bede said
our prayers
are worth more
than gold
do you pray?
she asked
only for the school
to fall down
or Thompson
to catch leprosy
I said
she frowned
that's not good
she said
we should pray
for good things
to happen
I liked her hair
and eyes
especially when
she gazed at me
as she spoke
her bright eyes
warming me
against the cold
ok
I said
I suppose
I could
we walked on
and across
Rockingham Street
I liked her
careful way
of walking
and her fine
small feet.
A BOY AND GIRL IN 1950S LONDON AND SUFFERING
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