#1960
In a world of rap
Where most music is just bass
She listens to jazz
Jazz that's dressed in sparkly crap.
In a world of texts
She chooses a pen with feathers
And writes letters
To the birdies that live in their nests.
In a world of Instagram
Where reside plastic filled humanoids
She chooses to hang up Polaroids
With a genuine act captured, not a sham!
In a world of internet
Where facts and fiction have rivalry
She sits herself in a library
Loving the silence and smell of wood she'd get.
The world of today
She despises a bit
People call her weird for she throws a fit
When she sees no romance in the holidays.
Unusual she is
She was born in the wrong era
Even the name, she scoffs, sad little Klera
For gay she isn't because
In the year of 2020
She's looking for the 1960s
Apr 29, 2020
Apr 29, 2020 at 11:19 PM UTC
The nun, plump, robed in a black
and white habit, walked across
the front of the class of girls.
Fay sat half way down on the left
next to the girl Millicent Sullivan
(whose aunt was a nun in Ireland).
"Immaculate Conception," the nun
said," what does it mean and to
whom does it refer?" The girls
stared at the nun whose two chins
wobbled as she spoke. Millicent
didn't raise her hand even though
she knew the answers, but put on
her innocent gaze. "Some of you
girls must know the answers,"
the nun said moodily. Fay raised
her hand and heads turned to look
at her. "Well, Fay?" She felt herself
blush and lowered her hand from
view. "It means one conceived
without blemish or sin," she said
in a soft voice. The nun stood up
to her full five foot frame. "And
what does conceived mean in this
context?" A few girls sniggered,
others gazed at Fay. The classroom
seemed to shrink to a white glow
containing just her and the nun.
"Not sure, Sister Luke," she said.
The nun gazed around the room.
"I am sure one of you girls know
the answer to this," Sister Luke said.
The girls just stared at the nun.
Millicent raised her hand and said:
"It means when the man's stuff
meets the woman's egg." Some
girls blushed, others looked puzzled.
"You have the idea. Now to whom
was it applied?" Sister Luke asked
staring at other girls. "The ****** Mary?"
A thin girl at the back of class replied doubtfully. Fay knew it was, but said
nothing more. The nun went on to
elaborate details. Fay was puzzled
by the man's stuff and egg. She
wondered if Benny knew. She would
ask him after school when she met
him on the way home. He knew
about things like battles and wars
and once kept a goldfish in a glass
bowl until he lost it down the sink.
He might know, she mused, she
didn't know otherwise what to think.
Sep 14, 2018
Sep 14, 2018 at 4:15 PM UTC
Your father passed me
on the stairs
on his way to work.
"Can Fay come
to South Bank
with me?"
I said
"To what end?"
He said.
We were standing
half way on the stairs.
"End?"
I said.
"What purpose?"
He said
staring at me.
"Watch amateur tennis
and watched boats
on the Thames"
I said.
He looked
at his wrist watch.
"I suppose she may"
he said
"but not to be late."
He moved on
down the stairs
and I went up the stairs
to Fay's flat.
I knocked at her door
and her mother opened.
"Just seen Fay's dad
and he said
she can come with me
to South Bank."
I said.
Her mother smiled at me.
"I'll go tell her"
she said.
I stood on
the balcony waiting.
Down in the Square
kids were pushing a go-cart
and others
were riding bikes.
Fay came out
on the balcony
and stood beside me.
Her mother
had given her
bus fare
and coins
for an ice cream.
We walked down
the stairs
and walked
through the Square
and down the slope
and waited for a bus.
We held hands
but no one seemed
to notice us.
Jun 1, 2018
Jun 1, 2018 at 1:47 PM UTC
She's nae ready yit
Mrs Scot said
when I called for Hannah
at the flat.
Will she be long?
I asked.
Ah dinnae kinn
she said
waltzing away
up the passage
leaving me
on the doorstep
gazing at her
disappearing ****
I looked back
into the Square.
Boys were riding their bikes
round the pram sheds
and girls were playing
hop-scotch
in chalked out boxes
or doing handstands
against the wall.
Thought I heard your voice
Hannah said
I was in the bog.
Mum's not
in a happy mood
as Dad forgot
her birthday present
yesterday and today.
I nodded
and looked at her
standing there.
We're going out
she called to her mother.
A grunt came back
along the passage way.
We went out
and she closed the door.
Is she ever happy
your mother?
I said.
Ah dinnae kinn
Hannah said
and smiled.
We went to the park
and rode the swings
and slide.
Then we lay on the grass
and she did mimics
of her mother
and we laughed a lot.
Then we sat in the shade
of the trees
being hot.
May 19, 2018
May 19, 2018 at 1:02 PM UTC
Mrs Scot had let me
into the flat
and sat me
in the sitting room
without a word except
*** en"
rather bruskly
at my back.
Hannah I assumed
was still in bed
or dressing
or fast asleep.
I gazed around the room
like an explorer
in some ancient land.
It was tidy but drab.
Statuettes stood on shelves
with photographs of people
in kilts who looked
and stared
with a certain pride.
The window revealed
a span of grass
a fence
and a sight of road.
Hannah went past
in a flash
and closed a door.
I thought I saw her
part naked
but I wasn't sure.
"She'll nae be lang"
her mother said
standing by the the door
eyeing me severely
with her dark eyes
and sign
upon her forehead
should say "
Death this way lies".
May 2, 2018
May 2, 2018 at 3:42 AM UTC
Eddie and Danny and I
were in the boys' toilets.
Danny opened up
a pack of 5 cigarettes,
and we each took one.
Eddie lit them
with his old man's lighter,
then put the lighter away
in the pocket of his blazer.
Eddie stood by the entrance
peering out in case a perfect
or teacher came along.
Do you think
that is Jones's
real face or a mask?
Danny asked.
Eddie laughed
almost choking
on his cigarette smoke.
War wound,
I guess,
I said,
releasing smoke.
No joke,
you think so,
Danny said.
Maybe some *****
slit his throat,
Eddie surmised,
and he survived.
Keep a look out,
Danny said,
in case.
I guess he could
have been,
Danny agreed.
Jones's scar
went right along
his throat.
We could see it
at assembly
or if he passed us
in school.
Who's going to ask him?
Eddie said.
None of us,
it was agreed.
We dumped
our cigarette butts
in the pan
and peed.
Mar 19, 2018
Mar 19, 2018 at 8:08 AM UTC
The sun's out
a warm day
and we're there
on the grass
sharing sweets
from white bags:
soft coffees;
sherbet drops.
Father's out
on retreat,
you tell me.
Half and half,
the sweets shared.
Where's he gone?
You pick out
a toffee
and unwrap
the paper.
An abbey,
you reply.
I take a
sherbet drop
and **** it.
How's your Mum?
I ask you.
She's fed up.
Why is that?
Can't tell you.
You sit there
chewing slow.
We're leaving,
you whisper.
Leaving here?
Yes, sometime.
I stare at
your blue eyes.
Why is that?
Mum wants to.
You look sad.
But do you?
I ask you.
I have to;
can't stay here.
You take a
lemon drop.
I'll miss you,
I tell you.
Mustn't tell
any one,
you tell me.
I won't talk,
I tell you.
We're silent.
Sweets are shared.
I missed you
once you went.
I often
thought of you;
your blonde hair,
your blue eyes
and your stare.
© 4 minutes ago, Terry Collett
Mar 10, 2018
Mar 10, 2018 at 3:47 PM UTC
She settled next to me
on the swings in the park;
pushing the swings back.
We let go the ground
and the swings moved back
and then forward;
we pushed our legs outward
then under the seat
of the swings
to continue the motion.
We rose quite high,
our feet reaching skyward.
I noticed her white ankle socks
and black plimsoles
moving upwards,
then they disappeared
under the seat,
then I noticed her knees
as she swung backwards.
She talked about a nun
at her school who hit girls
with a long ruler
if they talked out of turn
or gave an incorrect answer.
I said about the teacher
who caned boys at my school
usually in the assembly hall
in front other boys.
I had not been, but more
out of luck than
good behaviour, I told her.
She lifted her legs out
to the blue morning sky,
I gazed at them,
but didn't know why.
Feb 26, 2018
Feb 26, 2018 at 6:11 AM UTC
Fay paused by the bus stop.
I got off the bus.
What you doing here?
I said.
Wanted to see you,
she said.
We walked along
towards the crossing.
What did you want
to see me about?
I said.
We crossed the road.
She looked down
Meadow Row.
I may be leaving,
she said.
Where?
I said.
Don't know yet,
but Mum is taking me
with her when she leaves Dad,
she said.
What about us?
I said.
We walked down
Meadow Row.
I don't know, Benny,
she said softly.
We were silent
and walked to
Rockingham Street.
When will you go?
I said.
Can't say,
she said,
you mustn't tell anyone.
I said I would
tell no one.
We walked up
the stairs of the flat.
We paused
by my balcony.
We kissed
and she went up
the stairs and out of sight
like a bright star
vanishing at night.
Oct 2, 2017
Oct 2, 2017 at 1:48 PM UTC
Fay's father opened up his bible:
read the first paragraph.
Fay looked at the page
and read the paragraph.
Remember that,
I will ask you this evening
to recite it to me,
he said.
She looked
at the paragraph again.
He closed his bible:
remember what I said,
he said.
He stood up and walked off
with his bible
and into his bedroom.
How will I remember that?
she asked her mother.
What page was it?
her mother said.
Fay bit her lower lip:
it was Luke
not sure what page.
Her mother said:
what was it about?
Fay shrugged:
I didn't take it in
even though I read it
and looked at it again.
Once your father
has gone to work
I’ll get his bible
and you can go through it.
But what if Dad finds out
I have I opened his bible?
He won't I’ll put it back
as I found it,
her mother smiled,
don't worry about it.
But Fay did did worry
even when her father
had gone to work
and her mother brought the bible
and went through Luke.
That's it,
Fay said
pointing to the paragraph.
Copy it out on a bit of paper
and try to remember it,
her mother said.
But isn't that cheating?
Her mother said:
God won't mind
that is whom you need to please.
Fay nodded and copied out
the paragraph.
Her mother took the bible back
exactly where and how she found it
even the angel page marker
back exactly where she found it.
Fay read the paragraph
over and over until
it was stuck in her mind.
When her father
came home after work
he got his bible
and opened it
and said:
do you remember
that paragraph
you read this morning?
Fay's mother said:
why does she need
to remember a paragraph?
So she will know
the word of God,
he said.
She does know as much
as she needs to know,
her mother said.
He looked at her:
I don't want my daughter
to treat her faith like you do,
he said.
Fay looked at her hands
which were shaking.
A row was brewing
she could tell
and the evening
would be hell.
Sep 8, 2017
Sep 8, 2017 at 3:07 PM UTC
Whaur ur ye gonnae?
Mrs Scot said.
Going out
with Benny
Hannah said.
Whaur abit?
her mother asked.
Maybe swimming
in Bedlam Park
Hannah replied.
Again?
Ye only went
lest week
her mother said moodily.
Hannah went
into her bedroom
to find her
swimming costume
her mother
followed her.
Ah guess ye want
some bunsens?
the mother asked.
Just a few pence
for the locker key
Hannah said.
Her mother went out
and Hannah
found her costume
and a towel
and waited.
There was a knock
at the front door
and Mrs Scot answered it.
Benny stood there
she stared at him.
Ye hud best come in
Ah suppose
she said to him.
He entered
and walked down
the passageway
Mrs Scot following
behind muttering.
Hannah met him
by her door
got your swimming stuff?
she said.
Yes and money
he said.
Mrs Scot
got her black purse
and gave Hannah
a few coins
and stared at them both.
Nae funay business
she said.
Of course not
Hannah replied.
They went
to the front door
and went out.
The mother
watched them
cross the Square
and out of sight
down the slope.
What did she mean
no funny business?
Benny said.
Just Mum being
her usual charming self
Hannah said.
Benny let the words
disappear from his
12 year old head.
Aug 13, 2017
Aug 13, 2017 at 1:49 AM UTC
Ye best come in
Mrs Scot said
through gritted teeth
Hannah's gain tae
th' shop fur me
she added.
She closed the door
after me and nodded
with her head
for me to follow her.
Sit in thaur
an' dornt tooch anythin'
she said.
I sat down
and didn't
touch a thing.
The room
was junked up
with things.
A photo in a frame
on the mantel shelf
showed a man
in a kilt
and a Tam o' Shanter.
I assumed
it was her father
he looked out at me
and I could imagine him saying
whit ur ye daein' haur
ye Englander?
A fire blazed
in the fireplace.
The curtains were parted
on to a dull day.
Mrs Scot put her head
in the doorway.
Ah suppose
ye want a bevvy?
she said.
A tea please
I said
one sugar.
She looked at me
then went out
the door.
I felt chilled
and alone
like one left out
on a dark moor.
Jul 29, 2017
Jul 29, 2017 at 4:10 AM UTC
It had started to rain
as I got to Hannah's flat door.
I knocked
on the black
door knocker.
Hannah's mother
answered the door
and stood there unsmiling
whar dae ye want?
she said.
Hanna said
to come over
yesterday
to play chess
I said.
Tae play chess is it
she said
as if not moving
her thin lips.
Yes she said
yesterday.
Best come in 'en
she said
moving to let me in
then closing the door
after me.
Sit in th' sittin' room.
I went and sat
in the sitting room.
Hanna's in th' lavvy
she said
and she walked off
to the kitchen.
I looked around
the room
I'd been there before
a few times.
I always felt
like a fly waiting
for the big spider
to come.
The toilet chain flushed
and the door opened.
I heard voices
then Hannah came
into the sitting room.
O you are here
she said
I was in the toilet.
Yes your mother said.
Did she bite
your head off?
No just said
to come in
and sit here
I said.
Come to my room
and we can play at chess
she said.
So I followed her
to her room
and she shut the door.
I sat on her bed
while she reached
under her bed
for the chess set
in a well worn box.
She set it on the bed
and put the pieces
where they should be.
I watched her
plump hand
moving the pieces
on the board.
Her brown hair long
but tied back
in a ponytail.
Once she'd done
she sat the other side
of the chess set.
Shall we begin?
she said.
Sure
I said.
You go first
she said.
I moved a pawn
two movements forward.
I could hear
her mother
in the kitchen
banging tins about
and cursing.
Bet she's burnt herself
Hannah said
she always forgets
the oven glove.
She said it coolly
no sign of emotion
no sense of love.
Jul 24, 2017
Jul 24, 2017 at 3:28 AM UTC
Walnutt brought
cigarettes to school
packet of five.
Davies said
the bogs was best
for a smoke.
I watched out
at the playground
for teachers or prefects.
O'Brien and Sutcliffe
and Davies and Walnutt
stood in a small circle
lighting their cigarettes
from the one match
Sutcliffe had.
O'Brien lit mine
and poked it
between my lips.
My big sister
got them for me
Walnutt said.
Good on
your big sister
O'Brien said.
Have you heard
about Austen
and the competition
he's having for
the best piece
of pottery
Sutcliffe said.
That's me out
I said
he says I couldn't
make a ***
to **** in.
Did he say that?
Davies said.
Not in so
many words
but that's
what he meant
I said.
Who gives a ****
about pottery
O'Brien said
how's your cousin
Sutcliffe?
she had her photo
taken again recently?
any **** pictures
to show?
No she ain't
like that
Sutcliffe said
just modelling stuff.
I looked
at a prefect
walking over
by the woodwork
classroom wall.
Prefect near
I whispered
hiding my cigarette
behind my back
exhaling smoke
through pursed lips.
They all took
deep inhalations
and tossed
the cigarette butts
in the toilet pan.
Davies flushed
the chain.
O'Brien waved
his hand in the air
to wipe away
any smoke.
One by one
we ventured out.
My cigarette
flicked behind.
O'Brien
thanked Walnutt
for the cigarettes
and for being kind.
Jun 28, 2017
Jun 28, 2017 at 2:47 PM UTC
The sky looked overcast
dark clouds moved
above me.
I knocked
on the door
to Hannah's
parents' flat.
Mrs Scot opened it up
and eyed me
whit dae ye want?
she said.
Is Hannah home?
I said.
Nae she's it
Mrs Scot replied
in her Scottish dialect.
When will
she be back?
I said.
When she's dain
wi' messages
she said.
Can I come in
and wait?
I said.
If ye main
she said gruffly
and stood back
to let me pass by
and into
the sitting room.
Sit thaur
an dornt tooch
she said
through thin lips
and walked off.
I sat in one
of the armchairs
to wait.
There was a photograph
on the mantelshelf
of a man in a kilt
and hat
and stern gaze.
I wondered
if he was Mrs Scot's father
he looked like her
without the beard.
After five minutes
Hannah returned
with the shopping
and walked past the door
and smiled.
Won't be long
she said.
I could hear
Mrs Scot moan
and Hannah reply
but couldn't grasp
what they said.
Hannah came
and after a few words
with her mother
we left the flat
with her mother's words
echoing after us
like a seaman's cuss.
May 20, 2017
May 20, 2017 at 2:06 AM UTC
After school
I met Fay
on the bus.
She said a nun
at school
had talked
about the Mass.
She explained about it
but it was Dutch to me
but I didn't let on
as it seemed
to matter to her.
We got off the bus
and walked up
Meadow Row.
So Jesus is in
the bread and wine?
I said.
Yes under
the appearance
of bread and wine
it is called
a sacrificial meal
I think
Sister Bridget said
Fay explained.
She had lovely
blonde hair
and blue eyes
and she was
so near to me
I could sense her
being there.
Our hands were
nearly touching
just an inch
and they would touch.
We crossed
Rockingham Street
and walked up
the slope
to the Square.
I told her
about Eddie
getting the cane
for talking in assembly.
She seemed upset
about it.
We climbed
the concrete stairs
to the flats.
On the stairs
between
my parents' flat
and hers
we stopped
and kissed.
Lips to lips.
It was warm
and wet.
I didn't want
it to end
but we did.
She walked up
the stairs
and I went down.
I went into the flat
and said hello
to my mother.
I never said to Fay
that I love her.
May 19, 2017
May 19, 2017 at 3:17 AM UTC
I saw Benny
on the bus
and we walked home
to the flats.
On the stairs
between his flat
and mine
we kissed
it was a simple kiss
just lips on lips.
Then we parted
and I went upstairs
and he went along
to his parents' flat
and I went to mine.
My mother
was in the kitchen
preparing dinner.
My young brothers
were in the other room
playing with toys.
How was your
day at school?
Mum said.
It was all right
I said
Sister Bridget talked
about the Mass.
Mother nodded
and carried on
rolling out pastry.
When your father
gets home
I expect he will
want to know
what you have learnt
about the Mass
Mum said
I hope you remember
what you were taught.
I have
I said.
I went to my bedroom
and got out
of my school uniform.
The boys were playing
with their toys
in the front room.
I folded
my uniform
on a chair
and put on
a dress and cardigan
and sat on my bed
going over
in my mind
about the Mass.
Across the way
from the window
I saw a steam train
go over the bridge
smoke puffing out
into the sky.
I could still feel
the kiss on my lips.
I would have
kissed again
but felt shy.
May 1, 2017
May 1, 2017 at 11:48 AM UTC
My mother
was rolling out pastry
for an apple pie
in the kitchen.
The rolling-pin
eased over
by her palms.
She looked tired.
The apples
had been cooked
and were cooling down
on the stove.
I watched her.
My sister had
taken the two babies
out in the pram.
My kid brother
was playing with toys
in the other room.
Can I have
the apple peelings
to eat?
I asked.
If you like
she said
pausing and looking
at me.
She placed
the pastry bottom
into a pie dish
and spooned apples in.
I ate the apple peelings
watching her skill.
She placed the top
of the pastry
over the apples
and smoothed it over
and the kinked
around the top
until a pattern
had formed neatly
all around.
Open the oven door
for me
she said.
I opened the oven door
and she placed
the apple pie
onto a shelf
then closed the door.
That's that done
she said.
She looked worn out
and her face was red.
Apr 13, 2017
Apr 13, 2017 at 10:49 AM UTC
Fay sat on the grass
in front of Banks House.
Benny sat beside her
he had a book
in his lap open
he had been reading to her.
Do you read
religious books?
she asked.
No although I had a scan
of Pilgrim's Progress
Benny replied.
She looked at him
sitting there
his hazel eyes
and brown hair
with the quiff
at the front.
I mean other
religious books?
she said.
No don't think I have
apart from bit of the Bible
at school in R.E
he said.
I have to read
religious books at home
Daddy doesn't like me
reading worldly books
she said.
Like Treasure Island?
Benny said.
I suppose so
Fay said.
She took out a rosary
from her dress pocket
and showed Benny.
This is my rosary
she said.
She held it out
in her thin hand.
He took it
and held it
in his hand
and looked at the crucifix
at the end
and the white beads.
So this is a rosary?
he said.
She nodded
yes my mum bought it
for me and taught me
the prayers that you say
Fay said.
What prayers?
He said.
She told him.
He stared
at the crucifix
then handed it
back to her.
She kissed it
and put it back
in her dress pocket.
Do you pray?
she asked.
He looked at her
took in her blonde hair
long down to her shoulders
and her blue eyes
looking at him.
Only at school
in assembly
he said.
She nodded her head
and looked about them
at the coal wharf
across the road
up at the flat windows
behind them
then leaned forward
and kissed his cheek.
He smiled
and said within
I won't wash there
for another week.
Feb 11, 2017
Feb 11, 2017 at 11:07 AM UTC
The tall thin nun
opened the book
scanned the page
then gazed
at the children in class.
What relationship
does Our Lady have
within the Holy Trinity?
She said.
Fay sat at the front
hands in her lap
eyes looking
at the nun
and her bony fingers
holding
the black book.
A boy raised his hand:
yes Borrows?
The nun said.
She's the daughter
of God,
the boy said.
Fay knew the answers
but felt shy
to raise her hand.
Yes she is
the daughter of
God the Father
but what other relationship
does she have
within the Trinity?
The nun said.
A girl with pigtails
put up a hand:
she's the mother of Jesus,
the girl said.
Yes she is
the mother of Jesus,
but who is Jesus?
The nun said
her eyes scanning
the class like a hawk
for prey.
Fay shyly lifted
her hand:
Jesus is God the Son
and so Mary
is the Mother of God,
Fay said.
The nun studied Fay:
so Our Lady is both
a daughter of God
and the Mother of God,
the nun said.
Fay wondered
what Benny would make
of this lesson.
She would see him later
after school if she was
allowed out after dinner
if her father
was in a good mood.
What other relationship
does Our Lady have
within the Trinity?
The nun said.
Fay knew but felt
unsure if she should
raise her hand or not.
No one know?
The nun said.
No one replied
but sat there
eyes on the nun.
Fay knew but it
was too late now
the nun was about
to explain.
Our Lady is
the spouse
of God the Holy Spirit,
the nun said.
A boy put up
his hand.
Yes O' Connor?
What's a spouse?
He said.
The Holy Spirit
came upon her
and she conceived
of the Holy Spirit,
the nun said slowly,
so Our Lady
is the spouse of God
the Holy Spirit,
the nun said.
The boy nodded
nonplus.
Fay understood
but had said nothing.
She would ask
Benny later
if he knew
he would probably say:
haven't a clue.
Jan 12, 2017
Jan 12, 2017 at 10:26 AM UTC
You saw Benny on the bus;
he sat at the back
on a side seat;
he was with another boy,
you saw him
over your shoulder
as you turned around.
The bus came
to the Elephant and Castle,
Benny got off the seat,
said goodbye
to the other boy,
stood at the back of the bus
until it stopped,
and he got off.
You got off after him
and followed up
behind him.
Hello Benny,
you said.
He turned
and said:
Hi Fay,
where did
you come from?
I was on the bus,
you said.
I didn’t see you,
he said.
You both walked
to the crossing
and waited.
Why was you
on the bus?
He asked.
I had to visit a convent
so I can write
about it,
you said.
How is school?
He said.
It is all right,
you said,
not telling him
about the Seven Deadly Sins
you had to talk
about at school.
How's your old man?
Benny said,
still going on his
religious retreats?
You looked at him
by the crossing,
at his hazel eyes,
that quiff of brown hair.
Yes he is
going next month,
you said.
The traffic stopped,
you both crossed the road
towards Meadow Row.
What did you learn
at school today?
You asked him.
Not a lot,
he said,
what about you?
You wasn't sure
whether to say about
the Seven Deadly Sins.
You paused,
he stopped
and looked at you.
What is it?
He said.
We learned about
the Seven Deadly Sins,
you said.
He looked across
the bomb site
on your left.
What are they?
He said.
Well there is sloth,
envy, greed
gluttony, wrath,
pride and lust,
you said.
Quite a lot,
he said.
Yes they are deadly,
you said,
unless one is absolved
of these,
one can go to Hell.
He looked at you;
I like your hair
free flowing,
he said,
it adds to your beauty.
Benny,
you said,
I am being serious.
He frowned;
I do understand
what you say,
but what can I
do about it?
He said,
I haven't those
kind of things.
You smiled:
no I guess not,
you said.
He walked on,
you walked
beside him,
wanting to hold his hand,
but you didn't,
you listened
while he talked
of the cinema
and going there
at the weekend.
Can you go?
He said.
I'll have to ask
my dad,
you said.
Benny nodded,
you walked over
Rockingham Street,
wishing your lips
and his could secretly
and softly meet.
Dec 5, 2016
Dec 5, 2016 at 3:05 PM UTC
Fay sat in the classroom
and watched
as the plump nun
swayed back and forth
in front of the blackboard.
The nun stopped and stared
at the children in the class.
Who can tell me
the Seven Deadly Sins?
She asked,
peering at the front row.
There was silence.
Fay wanted to put up
her hand, but didn't want
to be seen as a know-it-all,
so she sat there
her arm anxious
to shoot up.
No one?
The nun said frowning,
surely one of you
knows at least one of them.
The children looked
at the desks or at each other,
none looked at the nun.
Nearly all of you
are committing one
of them right now
it seems,
the nun said.
Lust?
said a boy
at the back
who sat straight faced,
but bubbling inside
to burst into laughter.
The nun stared at him:
that is one,
anyone else have a sin?
Fay put up
her hand and arm:
Pride Sister Mary?
She said.
The nun looked at her:
That is two,
anyone else
have a sin to mention?
A girl with black hair
in bunches and glasses
said: Greed Sister Mary?
The nun nodded her head:
Four more sins;
anyone else have a notion?
There's envy,
the boy said
who had spoken earlier.
Fay knew them all,
but was unsure
about saying it:
Gluttony is another,
Fay said,
looking at her hands
in her lap.
Three more,
the nun said,
swaying back
and forward on her toes
like swaying penguin.
Wrath is one,
a boy
with spiky hair said.
One more,
the nun said,
eyeing the class
like a warrior
before battle.
Pride,
a girl said
behind Fay.
The nun nodded:
That is right;
now tomorrow
I expect each
one of you
to know them all,
the nun said.
Fay knew them all
so she wasn't worried
about that,
but then she worried
because it sounded
like pride
and she thought:
now I have
committed
a sin of pride:
having knowledge
or not,
she couldn't win.
Nov 4, 2016
Nov 4, 2016 at 5:19 AM UTC
The Pill was invented then,
And humanity lost all its morals finally.
Girls started using The Pill,
And now *** is for recreational purposes.
Birth control lost its meaning,
And condoms were now used just for fun.
The Pill came and all morality was lost.
Oct 15, 2016
Oct 15, 2016 at 2:34 AM UTC
I knock
on Hannah's
parent's door,
rain spitting down,
the morning air fresh
and lung biting.
Mrs Scot opens
the door:
O it's ye,
she says,
eyebrows rising,
eyes peering at me
hawk-like.
I've come
to see Hannah,
I say.
Ah didne hink
ye came tae
see me,
she says,
moving back
to allow me
to pass by.
I pass her by
like a mouse
passing a cat,
my eyes sidewards
gazing at her,
and moving past
as quick
as I can.
She closes
the door
and calls:
th' boy's haur,
gie it ay scratcher.
She indicates I go
into the lounge,
I do and sit down.
HANNAH!
She bellows.
She goes off
to the kitchen,
and I look around
the room.
Just coming,
won't be long,
Hannah says
from her bedroom.
Her mother says
something
incomprehensible,
and then all is quiet,
except for the ticking
of a clock.
The curtains
are drawn back
allowing light
to enter the room
(providing
it has wiped its
feet first
bringing
Dylan Thomas
to mind).
The picture
of a kilted man
stares at me.
He has big eyebrows
like dark caterpillars.
On the mantelshelf
is a photograph
of Hannah
and her parents
and her brother
who is away.
The bedroom doors opens
and Hannah appears.
Hello,
she says,
I overslept,
just going
for a wash,
and she is gone.
Dornt be lang,
her mother says.
Be quick
as Ah can,
Hannah calls back.
Water runs,
splash, splash.
She's a lazy huir,
her mother says,
coming into
the lounge,
holding a cup
and saucer of tea
for me,
puts it down,
smiles
the thinnest
lip smile,
then goes again.
Outside,
as I look through
the window,
is heavy rain.
Sep 30, 2016
Sep 30, 2016 at 3:27 AM UTC
Fay's father
wants to know
the content
of the film
she'd seen with
Benedict
a Western
film she says
Western what?
He asks her
USA
and cowboys
she replies
he eyes her
and did good
overcome the
evil ones?
Yes she says
the good won
at the end
and what else?
He asks her
there was love
shown also
she replies
and how shown?
He asks her
by showing
affection
between them
she tells him
but does not
tell him of
the kissing
or holding
that she'd seen
or that she'd
kissed Benny
on the cheek
he seems pleased
that is good
I am glad
you're aware
of human
weakness and
fall of man
he states
Fay stands there
holding on
to the thought
of that kiss
watching her
father's face
his dark eyes
in case he
can read her
very thoughts
in her mind
off you go
he tells her
help Mother
with the chores
so she leaves
carrying
in her mind
the warm kiss
on Benny's
right hand cheek
the highlight
of the week.
Sep 29, 2016
Sep 29, 2016 at 2:22 AM UTC