QUINN THE LARGE.A Poem by Terry CollettTWO IRISH SCHOOL BOYS IN THE 1950S.Quinn, you fat b*****d, O’Brien exclaimed, Give me a smoke. Quinn, despite being Twice the size of O’Brien, Obliged. He removed Two cigarettes From his school satchel And handed one to O’Brien. He lit both cigarettes With a match he’d struck On a box. How’s your sister? O’Brien enquired, still thinking Of being the nun? Quinn inhaled And nodded. O’Brien puffed On the cigarette. He pictured Quinn’s sister dressed up As a nun, but it didn’t square With the obese b***h he knew, Who once cornered him In the boy’s toilets For a kiss and grope. She wants to be a nun Of The Little Sisters of Jesus, Quinn said as he exhaled Smoke into the air. Little Sisters, You say, O’Brien chortled, Studying Quinn’s piggy eyes. Father O’ Leary said she’d make A good nun, Quinn stated. No doubt, she will, O’Brien said, I can see her now, all bound up In her habit cloth, the size Of a ship’s sail, drifting down The cloisters carried by the wind. Quinn inhaled the smoke. O’Brien laughed. Quinn frowned, He couldn’t see the joke. Just saw O’Brien’s shoulders Rise and fall, the cigarette Hanging loose from his lips, The gazing blue eyes, Too much the jester, Too much the fool. © 2011 Terry Collett |
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Added on July 17, 2011 Last Updated on July 17, 2011 AuthorTerry 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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