TILLY BY THE POND 1965

LIFE'S JOURNEY

You go to the old pond with Benny
and sit on the grass
in the summer's sun.

Not been here for ages
you say
looking at him sitting there.

Remember when
we first came here?  
he says
it was one Saturday
and we were both a bit shy.

You remember
yes I do
you say
I wasn't sure
about you then
but was pretty much
fixed on you after
seeing you
on the school bus.

He smiles
of course.

You smile
thoughts enter you head
of later dates
by the pond
and while he's talking
you remember
that time
you and he had sex
in the bushes
behind you now
(you don't look around
but it is behind
where you sit now)
and the biggest fear was
that someone
would come along
and see you.

We made love
back there
you say
breaking into his words.

He pauses
and looks at you
then back
behind you both.

Yes we did
he says
and stares at the bushes.

Not now though
you say quickly
before he has ideas
it was a different time.

He nods and looks
back at you
yes it was
he says
and stares at the pond
and at the swimming ducks
and floating dragonflies
and muses probably
like you
on time that flies.