AFTER JAIL PARK 1955

A BOY AND GIRL IN A LONDON PARK IN 1955 ONE SATURDAY AND TALK OF FILMS AND DOLLS

At Jail Park
on the swings
Benedict's

with Helen
Saturday
afternoon

he in jeans
& tee shirt
she in an

old green dress
with flowers
was the film

very good
at the kid's
matinee

this morning?
she asks
pushing out

her plimsolls
to the sky
yes it was

Benedict
says softy
a Western

with Tonto
& friend the
Lone Ranger

did he have
his mask on?
Helen asks

yes he did
Benedict
says to her

my old man
bought me one
from the shop

with a gun
& holster
they ride high

on the swings
they can see
quite a lot

around them
can feel air
on their faces

& their hair
can I see
your black mask

& your gun?
Helen asks
sure you can

after this
he tells her
her eyes big

through her thick
lens glasses
maybe then

I can show
you something
she tells him

they slow down
their swinging
what you got

to show me?
he asks her
a new doll

my mum bought
well it's not
really new

but it's new
for me though
I've called her

Margaret
after the
Queen's sister

Helen says
Benedict
isn't sure

about dolls
but he'll go
to her house

to see it
& maybe
her mother

will give him
one of those
cakes she makes

sure he says
loved to see
your new doll

they get off
of the swings
& walk back

to his flat
(where he lives
with parents

& siblings)
he thinking
of Helen's

mother's cakes
& Helen
of seeing

Benedict's
mask & gun
walking on

together
underneath
a bright sky

& hot sun.