SINKING SHIPS 1966

GIRLS AND MEN IN 1966 AND LIFE.

Yiska stood
at the window
of the truck
and flirted,

sweet cherry
Tony said
smiling at her
his eyes plum like
gazing at her,

she smiled at him
then said
you look like
Tony Curtis
but older,

I am younger
Tony said
looking away
seeing if traffic
was coming behind us,

the girl's a w***e
Claude said
watching her walk off
to the kerb
her hips swaying,

I waved to Yiska
she waved back
I recall her
teasing me once
saying leave these
old men behind
and I can show you
a good time
but I didn't
and regretted it after,

you know her?
Karl said to me
I said yes
but not well,

Yiska waved to us
as we drove away
her smile
could sink ships,

Iris said
would you if I
could make it
down to you?

of course
I replied
thinking
of the night time
and the house quiet
and she tiptoeing it
down not wishing
to wake up the others,

if she was
my daughter
I'd slap her arse
Tony said moodily
looking at Yiska
departing up the road,

I tried not
to picture it
but he had his way
with words,

as I played
the Miles Davis LP
Iris eyed me
and winked
and whispered
how about tonight?

Miles' flugal horn
stirred the air
and I whispered
ok that's fine,

the girls a w***e
Claude repeated
after Yiska
had gone
from sight
a memory only,

w***e or not
she was hot,

John Coltrane broke in
on his tenor sax
after Miles
and blew me away
that day,

a sweet thing
Karl said
smiling oddly,

Yiska said
I want you
so close
our flesh
would be one
and I could
squeeze you
between my thighs,

the truck drove on
and we drove past Yiska
and her swaying hips,

we sailed seven seas
and knew
of sinking ships.