IN THE TALL CLOVER.

A BOY AND GIRL IN LOVE IN 1962

She had taken you
to a field
near her father's house
you could see it

as you lay
in the tall grass
the summer school recess
having begun

the brain washing
over for a while
and Judith said
I had to sneak away

before Mother got me
into chores and such
and she glanced over
at the house

with her big blue eyes
glad we're here
you said
touching her hand

your finger running
along her soft skin
if she'd seen me
it would have been

just do this
or just do that
and the morning
would have gone

and you
would have waited
and waited
like a spare penis

at a wedding
as my brother
often says
she said

without turning
her head
she lay back
on the grass

her brown hair
spread amidst the green
you gazed at her eyes
looking up at you

and that smile
beginning to open
and her words
waiting to spring out

I'd have waited
you said
spare penis
or whatever

and she laughed
and as she laughed
you loved her more
and kissed her forehead

and her cheek
and moving lips
and still she laughed
and said

sorry can't help it
it's the way
you said it
and her laughter

frightened birds
into flight
and the echo
of her laughter

almost reached
the house you imagined
and saw
in your mind's eye

her mother looking
towards the field
hearing the echo
of laughter

and she frowning
her thin lips tightening
she imagining
whatever

her worse fears were
(sexual not murder)
up there in the field
but looking over

at the house
it sat still and silent
with no one looking out
or over

her mother not knowing
where her daughter was
being kissed and such
beautifully in the tall clover.