DIDN'T WANT TO KNOW 1961A Poem by Terry CollettA BOY AND GIRL IN SUSSEX IN 1961 AND TALK OF LIFE AND SEX AND PARENTSI had just finished sawing logs with my dad when Lizbeth came and stood by the back gate she smiled and I nodded who's your friend? Dad said her name's Lizbeth from school I said he smiled and walked in the back door to have a cup of tea and smoke rode on my bike to get here she said leaning on the gate her red hair in a ponytail she was in a short black skirt and white blouse and an open coat what are you doing here? I said I'm with Jane not at the moment you're not she said anyway no reason she should hog you all to herself the virgin queen you're a virgin you tell me I said yes but she wants to be and I don't there's a difference she said I stood facing her by the gate the air smelt of cow dung and earth and flowers from the hedge side bright sun what do you want me for there are others who'd oblige I said I don't want others I want you she said smiling I'm with Jane though I said not now you aren't besides I've come all this way to see you why not just have a walk with me it won't harm she said suppose not I said where'd you want to walk? anywhere not muddy she said let's go to the little church where we went last time I said that's a good mile she said yes 15 minutes walk I said she sighed and we walked off along the lane together she talked of her moody mother and boring father and her goody-goody brother who had married and gone off with a buffoon of girl she said how one night when they stayed she crept along to their room and listened at the door as they were at it at what? I said having sex by the sounds of it she said should you have listened? I said of course all part of leaning she said grinning she asked me about my family and I told her she said her mother nagged her to death about not having her room tidy about not doing chores about having music too loud on the record-player or radio then she told me other things I didn't want to know. © 2016 Terry Collett |
StatsAuthorTerry CollettUnited KingdomAboutTerry Collett has been writing since 1971 and published on and off since 1972. He has written poems, plays, and short stories. He is married with eight children and eight grandchildren. on January 27t.. more..Writing
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