SHOWING DOLLS.

A BOY AND GIRL AND THEIR MOTHERS

And Mrs Clark said
why doesn’t your son

come to tea
I’m sure Helen

would like that
she can show him

her collection of dolls
and your mother said

yes that would be nice
I’m sure he’d like that

and Helen peered at you
through her spectacles

her pupils like
two brown fish

in a glass bowl
and she smiled

one of those smiles
which frighten small boys

and Mrs Clark said
yes and you can come too

and your mother nodded
and off they went

into one of their
long conversations

and as they talked
Mrs Clark rocked the pram

with her youngest kid
wrapped up inside

and your mother stood
with you by her side

 with the creeping dread
riding up in you

of tea looming
and Helen standing there

her plaits on either side
of her head

going back and forth
as she moved her head

and Mrs. Clark laughed
and the pram shook

and the kid cried
and she rocked the pram

backward and forward
and all you

could think about
was the dolls

and the baked beans
on toast

and Helen showing you
her dolls

as she had before
and taking

a secret kiss
behind a closed door.