NOT TO GO OUT 1956

A BOY AND GIRL IN LONDON IN 1956

I knocked the black
door knocker
on Janice's nan's door
and her nan answered

and said
o hello Benedict
Janice can't come out
she let the canary out

and we had
a hell of  a job
getting it back
in the cage again

so I'm keeping her in
I was going
to tan her backside
but I thought

keeping her in
was more
of a punishment
on a day like this

o right
I said
looking at Nan's eyes
and her greying hair

and unsmiling face
but you can come in
and see her
for a few minutes

shame that you
have to be
without her though
so she walked

back up the passage
and into the sitting room
where Janice
was sitting on a settee

looking disgruntled
it's Benedict
come to see you
he is only staying

for a few minutes
so don't think
you can go out
because you can't

Janice nodded
and looked tearful
and her nan walked off
into the kitchen

I didn't mean
to let the bird out
I just opened
the cage door

to get it to stand
on my finger
but it flew out
and it to ages

to catch it again
and Nan was so angry
that she was
on the border

of giving a smacking
but then she thought
keeping me in
was more

of a punishment
so here I am
on a lovely warm day
sorry about that

I said
where are you going?
she asked
I was going to Jail Park

on the swings and slide
I said  
I see
she said

looking at me sadly
what have you got
in the bag?
I opened the bag

it's that Robin Hood book
I bought it
in that junk shop
on the New Kent Road

she held it
and opened it up
and looked
at the words

and  pictures
maybe next time
I can be
your Maid Marian

to your Robin Hood
she said
yes
I said

looking
at the canary
in its cage
that'd be good.

Author's Note

Photo by Colin O'Brien.

Reviews

[Kelly Scheppers]

My grandmother loved birds, and fancied parakeets, canaries and finches. Finches are very small, and have a tendency to escape whenever their cage door is askew. They are a pain to catch! My grandmother would simply give up, and allow the bird to tire, then eventually scoop him up. I hadn't thought of those days since her passing, so many thanks for conjuring up old memories.

I derive such delight from these works, Terry!

[Terry Collett]

Thank you, Kelly. To bring up and out the memories of another is in itself a reward. A poem from you maybe?

[Jennesis]

i was taken away reading this, to an afternoon of being caged in, punished from not ill intent, but circumstances beyond our control. Yet, still we are caged, like birds, longing to spread our wings and fly. Loved your words~
Jennesis

[Terry Collett]

Thank you, Jennesis