AT COCHEM 1974

A MAN AND WOMAN TOURING EUROPE IN 1974

The minibus pulled in

at Cochem

and we got out

to have a short look around

about an hour

the driver/guide said

meet back here

so we wandered off

I went with Dalya

avoiding some

of the others

on the minibus

who got on her nerves

like the teacher from Kent

and some other

farmer's daughter

from Yorkshire

let's go for a coffee

Dalya said

and cakes

they must have decent cakes

here for f***s sake

this is Germany

she said

the beer's good

I said

not at this time of day

it's not

she said

anyway we found

a Bierhaus that served coffee

so she had coffee

and I had a beer

cool and smooth

we sat at a table outside

in the morning sun

my father was here

in the War

I said

he managed to go through

it all with just

a few scratches

while friends of his

got killed or wounded

that's how it goes

she said

you never know your fate

like meeting that Yank b***h

we picked up yesterday

how she can talk

and my god

I slept with her

in the tent

and she never stopped

talking for hours

I went to sleep

in the end and I think

she still talked on

Dalya said moodily

she sipped her coffee

I drank my beer

what is it

with some women?

she said

they're men mad

all about men it was

or where she'd

been with men

as if I cared a heck

I'm with the Aussie guy

I said

I think he's got

his eyes on

the Yorkshire lass

by what he says

I added

he's welcome to her

Dalya said

maybe I can get him

to go off the Yank girl

I said

yes that'd be good

Dalya said

we drank our drinks

both smoking cigarettes

I thinking of Yiska

off in Italy with friends

and Dalya maybe

she was thinking

of someone she liked

at home or thinking

of other place

that we could roam.