BETTER DAYS 1961

A GIRL AND HER MOTHER AND A SEX BOOK FOUND IN 1961

Lizbeth sits
in the lounge
after school

her mother
comes and sits
opposite

found a book
Mother says

Lizbeth stares
what book's that?

A sex book
Mother says

is it good?
Lizbeth says

in your room
Mother says

Lizbeth frowns
in my room?

Yes your room
in that old
chest-of-drawers
Mother says

Lizbeth stares
with wide eyes
perhaps Dad
put it there
Lizbeth says

don't lie now
you know you
put it there
Mother says
eyes wildly
staring out
it's filthy
the pictures
of people
doing things
Mother says

it's just sex
Lizbeth says
positions
suggestions
how to do
all those things
where's it now?

It's still there
in the drawer
Mother says
quite coldly
you're 13
not 18
why have you
got the book?

Just to know
about it
Lizbeth says

you haven't
done those things
I hope child
Mother says

of course not
(although she
nearly had
Benedict
in her room
that time but
he refused)

just as well
your father
never found
that sex book
Mother says

he'd like it
Lizbeth says
those pictures
of nude girls
legs spread

that's enough
Mother says
she almost
goes to slap
the girl's face
but doesn't
you'll burn it
this minute
Mother says

it's not mine
it belongs
to a girl
at my school
Lizbeth says

give it back
to her then
Mother says

Lizbeth goes
up the stairs
to her room
slams the door

Mother turns
on the old
radio
Mozart plays
sits and thinks
of all those
better days.