FAY AND THE PATER NOSTER.A Poem by Terry CollettA BOY AND GIRL IN LONDON IN 1950S AND HER FATHER AND THE PATER NOSTER.
After breakfast
after doing shopping for your mother you met Fay on the grass in front of Banks House and you lay there looking up at the summer sun and white clouds and the sound of trains shunting over by the railway yard and Fay said my daddy says I’m to be able to recite the Pater Noster in Latin by the time he gets back from his work travelling what the heck’s the Pater Noster? You asked looking at her sideway her pale features catching your eyes her blue eyes gazing at the sun it’s the Our Father in English she said what’s the big deal? You said doesn’t God understand English? sure He does she said but Daddy wants me to learn the Latin he said all good Catholic girls need to know their Latin what’s kiss my arse in Latin? You asked she looked at you and laughed shyly and said I don’t know ask your dad You said I wouldn’t dare she said looking away back at the sky does he know Latin your dad? You asked some he does she replied but he wouldn’t know that I shouldn’t think maybe you should learn that and say that you him instead of the Pater Noster she looked anxious I wouldn’t dream of it she said and as you both lay there on the grass she moved her leg and you saw a blue bruise on her thigh turning greeny yellow but you said nothing of that but talked how your old man had made you a blue metal money box to keep your pocket money in and she listened in silence her pale features and blue eyes holding your eyes as you spoke looking along her lime coloured dress at the leg showing the bruise still there like a fallen fruit and she smelt of apples freshly picked and held to the nose better go she said best learn this Latin before his return and off she walked across the grass waving to you as she went and you blew her a kiss from your palm but she had gone but at least You said gazing at the sky it’d been sent. © 2013 Terry Collett |
StatsAuthorTerry 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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