#kidss - Hello Poetry

I was on a bomb site off Meadow Row with Helen searching for small stones for my catapult she had her doll Battered Betty in one hand and was looking at the ground through her thick lens glasses how small do they have to be? she said about this size I said showing her with my thumb and finger we searched amongst the bricks and rubble and bits of wood and weeds is this small enough? she said picking up a stone and putting it in the palm of her small hand I went to her and gazed at it and picked it up and said yes that's about right and put it in a small pouch made from an old handkerchief tied together and tied to the belt around my blue jeans how many stones do you need? she said because Betty is getting hungry and I will have to feed her soon with the bottle in my dress pocket o about a handful I said just a few more ok she said and we looked on Betty hanging from Helen's hand by her tiny hand just then a copper walked across the bomb site from the New Kent Road trudging at his own pace towards us Helen saw him first and stood up and clutched Betty close towards her chest her eyes large and scared looking I stood up and put my hands in the pockets of my blue jeans you ought not to be on bomb sites he said they're dangerous places Helen opened her mouth to speak but nothing came but air we're collecting stones for my catapult I said he stood upright with his hands on his hips staring at us both I don't care if you're collecting gems for Her Majesty the Queen I want you off now and to go home he said his voice firm and baritone only I need ammunition I said and this is the best place for them off and go home he said peering at me his eyes dark and enlarging Helen was nigh wetting herself so I shrugged and said ok but we'll be back once you've gone Helen stared at me as if I'd passed wind GO NOW he bellowed pigeons flew up and off from the bomb site at the sound we walked off the bomb site together she looking ahead eyes tearful I gazing back like I'd seen this cowboy do in that Western film before a gunfight I'd seen with my old man the previous night.

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Feb 5, 2016

Feb 5, 2016 at 2:04 AM UTC

TerryCollett

OUT OF BOUNDS 1955.

I was on a bomb site off Meadow Row with Helen searching for small stones for my catapult she had her doll Battered Betty in one hand and was looking at the ground through her thick lens glasses how small do they have to be? she said about this size I said showing her with my thumb and finger we searched amongst the bricks and rubble and bits of wood and weeds is this small enough? she said picking up a stone and putting it in the palm of her small hand I went to her and gazed at it and picked it up and said yes that's about right and put it in a small pouch made from an old handkerchief tied together and tied to the belt around my blue jeans how many stones do you need? she said because Betty is getting hungry and I will have to feed her soon with the bottle in my dress pocket o about a handful I said just a few more ok she said and we looked on Betty hanging from Helen's hand by her tiny hand just then a copper walked across the bomb site from the New Kent Road trudging at his own pace towards us Helen saw him first and stood up and clutched Betty close towards her chest her eyes large and scared looking I stood up and put my hands in the pockets of my blue jeans you ought not to be on bomb sites he said they're dangerous places Helen opened her mouth to speak but nothing came but air we're collecting stones for my catapult I said he stood upright with his hands on his hips staring at us both I don't care if you're collecting gems for Her Majesty the Queen I want you off now and to go home he said his voice firm and baritone only I need ammunition I said and this is the best place for them off and go home he said peering at me his eyes dark and enlarging Helen was nigh wetting herself so I shrugged and said ok but we'll be back once you've gone Helen stared at me as if I'd passed wind GO NOW he bellowed pigeons flew up and off from the bomb site at the sound we walked off the bomb site together she looking ahead eyes tearful I gazing back like I'd seen this cowboy do in that Western film before a gunfight I'd seen with my old man the previous night.

118

Sister Paul walked across the green lawn her flowing black habit billowing behind her then she stopped right in front of the white steel table where Anne and the Kid were sitting eating tea (sandwiches cut into triangles and pieces of iced cake) I've been told the nun said that you two have said things to Lulu and young Colm that were rude and unkind is that right? when was this? Anne asked after the afternoon siesta the nun said don't recall anything Anne said do you Kid? Benedict shook his head Sister Paul looked at him it's a sin to tell lies Benedict the nun said are you sure you recall nothing of what I've said? but sister are all lies said sinful? Anne asked yes they are the nun said so if I said you were beautiful would that be sinful too? Anne said Sister Paul tut-tutted you are not so clever as you think the nun said so you too can tell lies Anne said the nun stood taking in the young girl sitting her one leg poking out of a red patterned skirt her leg stump visible where the skirt had ridden up the thigh don't be cruel to other children here with your words the nun said Anne stared at the nun then picked up a sandwich and ate it as noisy as she could Benedict sipped his tea as the nun walked away and wondered how easy it would be for the nun to pull up all that gear (the habit) to go *** that's a good example Skinny Kid of Christian love and such did you see her hard face? what love there? where God's grace? Benedict said nothing just sipped tea (warm and sweet) recalling Sister Paul's long and white naked feet.

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Sep 12, 2015

Sep 12, 2015 at 1:57 AM UTC

TerryCollett

ALL SINS 1959

Sister Paul walked across the green lawn her flowing black habit billowing behind her then she stopped right in front of the white steel table where Anne and the Kid were sitting eating tea (sandwiches cut into triangles and pieces of iced cake) I've been told the nun said that you two have said things to Lulu and young Colm that were rude and unkind is that right? when was this? Anne asked after the afternoon siesta the nun said don't recall anything Anne said do you Kid? Benedict shook his head Sister Paul looked at him it's a sin to tell lies Benedict the nun said are you sure you recall nothing of what I've said? but sister are all lies said sinful? Anne asked yes they are the nun said so if I said you were beautiful would that be sinful too? Anne said Sister Paul tut-tutted you are not so clever as you think the nun said so you too can tell lies Anne said the nun stood taking in the young girl sitting her one leg poking out of a red patterned skirt her leg stump visible where the skirt had ridden up the thigh don't be cruel to other children here with your words the nun said Anne stared at the nun then picked up a sandwich and ate it as noisy as she could Benedict sipped his tea as the nun walked away and wondered how easy it would be for the nun to pull up all that gear (the habit) to go *** that's a good example Skinny Kid of Christian love and such did you see her hard face? what love there? where God's grace? Benedict said nothing just sipped tea (warm and sweet) recalling Sister Paul's long and white naked feet.

126

After going to Janice's doll's tea party in her gran's flat I thought I'd best ask her to a cowboy's tea party as a sort of pay back thing so she came to my parent's flat and I said hi glad you could make it she came in along the passageway past the kitchen where my mother was arranging a few items for the tea and then turned left into what I termed the toy room where I'd arranged a small table(tea-chest upside-down) and cloth of bright colours (tea towel) and two small chairs (large seaside buckets turned upside down) with cushions on the sideboard I had arranged my toy soldiers and guns a rifle a sword and bow and arrows and a number of Dinky cars she said I guess you don't have any dolls? no no dolls I said I can borrow one of my sister's if you want a doll present I said no it's all right she said gazing at me smiling weakly while we were waiting for my mother to bring in the food items I showed her my guns and holsters and she picked up a silver looking gun and held it in her hands it's quite heavy she said is it real? no it's an old one my old man got me some place looks real though don't it I said it's one of my favourites she lifted it and pointed it at the wall and pulled the trigger and the gun went BANG and she dropped it and put her hands over her mouth and said was it loaded? she looked scared yes it was loaded with a roll of caps I said sorry I should have warned you I picked up the gun and put it back on the sideboard and handed her my rifle which she held gingerly is it loaded? she said no it's ok no caps there I said she put it against her shoulder and looked along the barrel and aimed at the light bulb and pulled the trigger and it went click and she smiled and said I blew out the light she gave me back the rifle and my mother brought in some items and put them on the table and said what would you like to drink Janice? may I have orange juice please? my mother nodded and said you Benny? Tizer please with a shot of red-eye I said my mother nodded bemused and went off to the kitchen Janice looked at the items nice cakes and sandwiches she said and chocolate biscuits too yes I said Mum knows you are special to me so she pulled out all the stoppers and here we are and we sat and ate and Mum brought in the drinks and left us alone to eat and drink and talk and I told her about the gunfight in Dodge City and how I had shot the Billy the Kid Gang and she sat impressed and told me about the coming trip to the seaside with the gospel church and that her gran had bought tickets and was I going? and I said yes I was pleased she was going but tried not to show it.

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Feb 6, 2016

Feb 6, 2016 at 3:08 AM UTC

TerryCollett

NOT TO SHOW IT 1956.

After going to Janice's doll's tea party in her gran's flat I thought I'd best ask her to a cowboy's tea party as a sort of pay back thing so she came to my parent's flat and I said hi glad you could make it she came in along the passageway past the kitchen where my mother was arranging a few items for the tea and then turned left into what I termed the toy room where I'd arranged a small table(tea-chest upside-down) and cloth of bright colours (tea towel) and two small chairs (large seaside buckets turned upside down) with cushions on the sideboard I had arranged my toy soldiers and guns a rifle a sword and bow and arrows and a number of Dinky cars she said I guess you don't have any dolls? no no dolls I said I can borrow one of my sister's if you want a doll present I said no it's all right she said gazing at me smiling weakly while we were waiting for my mother to bring in the food items I showed her my guns and holsters and she picked up a silver looking gun and held it in her hands it's quite heavy she said is it real? no it's an old one my old man got me some place looks real though don't it I said it's one of my favourites she lifted it and pointed it at the wall and pulled the trigger and the gun went BANG and she dropped it and put her hands over her mouth and said was it loaded? she looked scared yes it was loaded with a roll of caps I said sorry I should have warned you I picked up the gun and put it back on the sideboard and handed her my rifle which she held gingerly is it loaded? she said no it's ok no caps there I said she put it against her shoulder and looked along the barrel and aimed at the light bulb and pulled the trigger and it went click and she smiled and said I blew out the light she gave me back the rifle and my mother brought in some items and put them on the table and said what would you like to drink Janice? may I have orange juice please? my mother nodded and said you Benny? Tizer please with a shot of red-eye I said my mother nodded bemused and went off to the kitchen Janice looked at the items nice cakes and sandwiches she said and chocolate biscuits too yes I said Mum knows you are special to me so she pulled out all the stoppers and here we are and we sat and ate and Mum brought in the drinks and left us alone to eat and drink and talk and I told her about the gunfight in Dodge City and how I had shot the Billy the Kid Gang and she sat impressed and told me about the coming trip to the seaside with the gospel church and that her gran had bought tickets and was I going? and I said yes I was pleased she was going but tried not to show it.

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