CARD GAME WON 1957

TWO SCHOOL BOYS IN 1957 AND A CARD GAME

Dennis said
how comes
you hang around

the girls?
they ain't nothing
just trouble

just dolls
and girl talk
and soft talk

that's why
I like them
the contrast

the other world
kind of thing
I like their being

Maid Marian
to my Robin hood
or Annie Oakley

to my Billy the Kid
I like it when
they bind

my pretend wounds
after a gun fight
at the OK Corral

or after
a run in
with Norman Knights

and that kind
of pretend fights
I said

Dennis sat
and looked at me
and said nothing

but threw his card
against the wall
but came short

of nearing mine
and I bagged his cards
including

his favourite
film star card
and he stared at me

moodily and hard.