NOT TO LEAVE HER SPACE.

A GIRL AND BOY AND HER CRUEL FATHER.

Ingrid sees Benedict

from the balcony

he's in the Square

riding a blue scooter

a two wheeled affair

pushing himself along

with his right foot

his small quiff of hair

moving there

in the morning air

his opened necked

shirt short sleeved

and jeans blue

fading to grey

she wishes

she could ride

the scooter

could have

some fun

feel the air

of freedom

in her dull

brown hair

riding with him there

but her father

in his moody blues

has tanned her hard

and said not

to go beyond

the space of balcony

or beyond

not just out

of punishment

imposed

but in case

others see

on leg or thigh

bruises and welts

to blind the eye

now Benedict

races fast

his foot

pushing hard

and quick

O to be there

with him

to feel

his hand

in hers

or feel

his words

of humour

warm her heart

and ease her

troubled mind

now he stops

and turns

and sees

and stands

and waves

but shakes

her head

she can no more

leave her space

than the dead

can leave their graves.

Ingrid sees Benedict

from the balcony

he's in the Square

riding a blue scooter

a two wheeled affair

pushing himself along

with his right foot

his small quiff of hair

moving there

in the morning air

his opened necked

shirt short sleeved

and jeans blue

fading to grey

she wishes

she could ride

the scooter

could have

some fun

feel the air

of freedom

in her dull

brown hair

riding with him there

but her father

in his moody blues

has tanned her hard

and said not

to go beyond

the space of balcony

or beyond

not just out

of punishment

imposed

but in case

others see

on leg or thigh

bruises and welts

to blind the eye

now Benedict

races fast

his foot

pushing hard

and quick

O to be there

with him

to feel

his hand

in hers

or feel

his words

of humour

warm her heart

and ease her

troubled mind

now he stops

and turns

and sees

and stands

and waves

but shakes

her head

she can no more

leave her space

than the dead

can leave their graves.