HELEN AND YOU AND THE STAMP ALBUM.P

A BOY AND GIRL IN LONDON IN 1950S AND THE PURCHASE OF A STAMP ALBUM.

You stopped outside
this shop window
on the New Kent Road
and peered in

there were lots
of merchandise
with labels saying
To Clear on them

and you saw
this stamp album
with a packet
of stamps attached

for 1/6d
so you went in
and asked the old guy
behind the counter

for the stamp album
and stamps
and he reached in
the window

and took it out
and you gave him
the 1/6d
and he handed you

the album
and he said
ain't you the kid
who came in here

last week
and bought
the cap gun and holster?
yes I am

you said
why?
you must have
diverse tastes kid

he said
guess so
you said
and walked out

into the street
where Helen
was waiting for you
what did you buy?

she asked
a stamp album
and stamps
you replied

you showed her
what you'd bought
you don't look like
the kind of kid

who'd buy
a stamp album
or who
collected stamps

she said
what's a kid
who collects stamps
look like?

you asked
she looked at you
her head
slightly

to one side
I don't know
someone with glasses
with black plastered

down hair
with a posh voice
she said
you gazed at her

standing there
in her red
and yellow
flowered dress

and brown hair
in tied bunches
and her thick
lens glasses

you wear glasses
you said
you don't
collect stamps

but I'm not a boy
she said
only boys collect stamps
you shook your head

and smiled
anyway lets go
to my house
and drop theses off

and go to the park
and have fun
you said
ok

she said
and you walked with her
to your home
you with your stamp album

and stamps
and she with her
battered doll Betty
in her right hand

swinging it along
and you humming
some Roy Rogers
cowboy song.