INGRID AND SILENCE 1958

A GIRL AND HER PARENTS IN LONDON IN 1958 AND A ROW.

Morning came
she woke up
in her room

she listened
the old brown
Bakelite

radio
was churning
out music

she got up
remembered
her father

had hit her
before bed
she opened up

the green door
and went through
the bright lit

sitting room
her father
sitting there

eating up
his breakfast
she passed through

he watched her
said nothing
she went past

the kitchen
and bathroom
her mother

was coming
out the bog
how are you

young Ingrid?
Mother said
Dad hit me

before bed
Ingrid said
why was that?

Mother said
I went out
with Benny

we played games
cut my thumb
Ingrid showed

her mother
the bandaged thumb
let me see

how it is
Mother said
she unwrapped

the cut thumb
how did you
cut the thumb?

Ritual
Benny said
what Injuns

used to do
joining thumbs
that are cut

blood brother
and sister
Ingrid said

is that why
your father
hit you one?

Mother asked
I don't know
Ingrid said

Mother washed
the cut thumb
and put on

a plaster
off you go
to get washed

then get dressed
Ingrid went
to the bog

and sat down
she could hear
raised voices

Father's roar
Mother's shout
exchange

of insults
a duet
of anger

words flying
like dark birds
Ingrid thought

where's Benny
wish he was
here with me

my brave knight
with his quiff
of brown hair

hazel eyes
and that sword
his old man

made for him
he like me
10 years old

the voices
had silenced
an eerie

cold silence
was out there
Ingrid sat

stiff as death
listening
with held breath.