Benny walked
to Hannah's flat
and her mother
answered the door
(her mother was a Scot)
and stared at him
och it's ye
she said
best come in
HANNAH
the wee boy's haur
Benny followed her
along the passage
and she settled him
in the lounge
giving him her look
(which would have
brought fear
to a brave grenadier)
Hannah came
into the lounge
got behind
she said
all like a cat's tail
where we going?
Benny suggested
a trip to Jail Park
to ride the swings
and slide
want to go to
an art gallery
she said
see some art not
ride swings or slide
Benny nodded his head
and said
ok and talked
of where his old man
used to take him
in the West End
to see art
just going
to tell Mum
she said
and walked
to the kitchen
where her mother
was doing washing
in the copper
gang whaur?
her mother said
I’ve nae bunsens
just bus fare
Hannah said
the art gallery's free
her mother opened
her purse
(moths flew out
Hannah later said)
and placed a few coins
in Hannah's palm
aam nae payin'
fur heem
she said
hard faced
Hannah said
that's fine
and off they went
out of the flat
down the slope
to get a bus
to Trafalgar Square
and look at
the art in
a gallery there