BE AS SHE PLEASE.

A BOY AND GIRL IN 1950S LONDON AT A RAILWAY STATION.

Lydia's father said

she could go with you

to Waterloo railway station

mind the roads though

he said(in his

sober moments

he could be quite

considerate)

and not too near

the edge

of the platform

can't have you

falling in front

of a train

so you took a bus

to Waterloo station

both sitting at the rear

of the bus

on the side seats

having paid

the conductor the fare

and sitting there

watching

the passing views

she in her pale

blue dress

her dark straight hair

pale features

thin arms and legs

you thinking

of the steam engines

the power

and the puff of smoke

grey white

and she thinking

of her big sister

coming home

in the early hours

puking in the bog

her mother giving one

hell of a loud scream

of abuse

and her father saying

O give the girl a chance

and Lydia turning over

in the double bed

dreading her sister's

arrival stinking of sick

hanging off

the side of the bed

with a bucket beside

throwing up

what was once inside

the bus arrived

and you got off

and you said

hang on to my hand

we'll cross together

and so she held

your hand

her thin bony fingers

wrapped about yours

her hand cold

thin nails chewed

got to keep an eye

on you

your old man said

you said

and you crossed

running to avoid

the rushing traffic

and once across

she said

that man next to me

on the bus

put his hand

on my thigh quickly

but then we got off

and I didn't know

what to say

she added

you should have told me

you said

she looked anxious

and bit her lip

no matter now

too late

but if you see him again

tell me

and we'll get

the bugger

you said

she nodded

and so you walked

into the station

past crowds of people

and porters

pushing trolleys

of luggage or mail

by the tall copper

with hands behind

his back

and on to the platform

and took a seat together

to watch trains

and hear the sounds

and smell the acrid

smoke and engines

come and leave

sense the overpowering

sounds of released steam

and whistles blown

and flags waved

and passengers

boardings

and disembarking

and you taking

a side view of her

sitting there

anxiety

in the features

of her face

her hair straight

and well brushed

she unaware

you gazed

and took it all in

and she thinking

of her sister's moans

and occasional vomiting

and she hardly sleeping

and now here

watching trains

you beside her

in your short

sleeved jumper

and cowboy shirt

and jeans

and sniffing in

the smell of smoke

and steam

and listening

to the engines

start up

and sense

the thrill of power

in the huff and puff

and she for once

happy just being there

far from her sister's snores

and her brother's tease

here to be

with you and be

as she please.

Lydia's father said

she could go with you

to Waterloo railway station

mind the roads though

he said(in his

sober moments

he could be quite

considerate)

and not too near

the edge

of the platform

can't have you

falling in front

of a train

so you took a bus

to Waterloo station

both sitting at the rear

of the bus

on the side seats

having paid

the conductor the fare

and sitting there

watching

the passing views

she in her pale

blue dress

her dark straight hair

pale features

thin arms and legs

you thinking

of the steam engines

the power

and the puff of smoke

grey white

and she thinking

of her big sister

coming home

in the early hours

puking in the bog

her mother giving one

hell of a loud scream

of abuse

and her father saying

O give the girl a chance

and Lydia turning over

in the double bed

dreading her sister's

arrival stinking of sick

hanging off

the side of the bed

with a bucket beside

throwing up

what was once inside

the bus arrived

and you got off

and you said

hang on to my hand

we'll cross together

and so she held

your hand

her thin bony fingers

wrapped about yours

her hand cold

thin nails chewed

got to keep an eye

on you

your old man said

you said

and you crossed

running to avoid

the rushing traffic

and once across

she said

that man next to me

on the bus

put his hand

on my thigh quickly

but then we got off

and I didn't know

what to say

she added

you should have told me

you said

she looked anxious

and bit her lip

no matter now

too late

but if you see him again

tell me

and we'll get

the bugger

you said

she nodded

and so you walked

into the station

past crowds of people

and porters

pushing trolleys

of luggage or mail

by the tall copper

with hands behind

his back

and on to the platform

and took a seat together

to watch trains

and hear the sounds

and smell the acrid

smoke and engines

come and leave

sense the overpowering

sounds of released steam

and whistles blown

and flags waved

and passengers

boardings

and disembarking

and you taking

a side view of her

sitting there

anxiety

in the features

of her face

her hair straight

and well brushed

she unaware

you gazed

and took it all in

and she thinking

of her sister's moans

and occasional vomiting

and she hardly sleeping

and now here

watching trains

you beside her

in your short

sleeved jumper

and cowboy shirt

and jeans

and sniffing in

the smell of smoke

and steam

and listening

to the engines

start up

and sense

the thrill of power

in the huff and puff

and she for once

happy just being there

far from her sister's snores

and her brother's tease

here to be

with you and be

as she please.