NEVER SAY NEVER 1960

A BY AND GIRL ON THEIR LAST DATE TOGETHER IN LONDON 1960

Fay said it may be our
last time out together
but to tell no one as her
mum was going to make

arrangements for them
to leave and go off
leaving her father and
brothers behind and the

very thought of her going
made me sad and so I
thought we'd have to
make the most of the last

time together and so when
I picked her up from
the flat upstairs and saw
her mum she said say

nothing to anyone not
even your parents or
siblings I won't I said
not to a living soul thank

you Benny she said and
went in and Fay came out
and we walked downstairs
and out into the Square

and Fay said where did
you want to go? let's go
by the South Bank and
have a Coke and ice cream

I said  she nodded and
we got a bus from the
New Kent Road and sat
at the back side by side

the bus slightly swaying
to and fro and I watched
the scene go by and sensed
her next to me and thought

this could be the last time
we're together and I wanted
to make it last forever but
I knew it would go as time

does and as the bus got to
South Bank we got off and
wandered along by the Thames
and stood looking down at

the river flowing by with
barges and small boats passing
and she said can't believe
I may not see you after this

day out it stung me the reality
of it that that maybe it will
be you write to me? I said
yes once we're settled and

it is safe to I will write and
say where we are but please
don't tell anyone my new
address or Dad will find us

and God knows what will
happen then I won't tell
anyone I said she stared at
the water and a few ducks

passed and I smelt her and
the perfume she was wearing
nice perfume I said my mum
said I could wear some but

Dad doesn't like me wearing
perfume he said it's what
w***e's wear and God hates
it too but Mum said I could

so I did and with that she
kissed me on the cheek and
we gazed out at the Thames
aware this could be the last

time we did so together
and an echo in my head
said never say never.