THE SWING 1955

A BOY AND GIRL IN A LONDON PARK IN 1955

How high can you swing?
Helen asked
high as the clouds
I said

she frowned
bet you can't
she said
I'll show you

I said
and so we went
to Jail Park
via Bath Terrace

and took up 2 swings
next to each other
and we pushed off
the ground and off

we went and she said
high as a cloud?
I bet not
and so I swung

back and forward
and higher and higher
and she beside me
pushing herself

as high she she could
her brown sandals
and white socks
(greyish)

pointing skyward
and her greeny dress
flapping in the air
and my black

scuffed shoes
reaching for the sky
my grey socks
poking out

at the ends
of my blue jeans
my arms linked
the chains

of the swing
and I pulled
back and forth
and she did likewise

but slower
and I said
I am touching
the clouds see

no you're not
you're no where near
she said
she lay back and then

shot forward
pushing the chains
of her swing
as she went

then she fell backwards
and her legs caught
in the chains
held her there dangling

and I jumped off
(nigh breaking my neck)
and stopped her swing
and there was blood

in her hair
and she was crying
and I picked her up
and dusted her down

and  took out
an old handkerchief
and dabbed her head
and it went red

and she hobbled with me
to the first aid lady
in the small building
over by the edge

of the park
and she said
o what have we here?
she fell off the swing

I said
and Helen was crying
and I sat her down
in a chair

and held my handkerchief
to her reddening hair.