IN STOCKHOLM WITH MOIRA.

A BOY AND GIRL IN STOCKHOLM IN 1974.

Stockholm
Moira said grumpily
I wanted
to go to Greece

but the darn war
put a stop
to that
she was sitting

with me
in a small café
she was in denim
with a pink blouse

smoking
a menthol cigarette
I like it here
I said

it's clean
and the girls
are nice and sexy
and I am not?

she said
staring at me
her Scottish tones
sharp as razors

present company
included
I said smiling
she didn't smile

her lips were thin
and her eyes
were icy blue
I think have

Swedish roots
I said
she inhaled
and looked away

I’m fed up
she said
that Yank woman
is getting to me

with her talk
of men and sex
and how much
she can have them

eating out
of her hand
and I have to share
a tent with the b***h

why she can't share
with the men
in camp
is beyond me

I don't fancy her
at all
I said
I should hope not

Moira said
I had you down
as one with taste
I lit a cigarette

and watched her
sitting opposite
she sipped
her rum and cola

your brother said
you were engaged
I said
what's that to you?

she said
nothing except
I can't imagine you
engaged to anyone

well I’m not
any more
I gave him the elbow
always after

getting me
into his bed
after a night out
what's wrong

with men
can't they just
have a night out
without sex?

guess not
I said
I drank my beer
and studied her

moody features
anyway
she said
hope you're not

expecting anything
after this wee
drink and smoke?
I wouldn’t dream of it

I said
but I had
but I didn't her
well not

at that time
I had to wait
for her mood
to clear

and her heart
to soften
and the Yank dame
to take a hike

to some guy's bed
and I made plans
but only
in my young guy's head.