FAY AND HER BOOK OF PRAYERS.

A BOYA ND GIRL IN 1950S LONDON

Fay showed me a book
as we sat
on the grass
outside Banks House

it was a black
covered book
with blue
and white strips

of ribbon
to keep a page
you were on
she thumbed the pages

with her small thumb
and finger
there’s a lovely prayer
in here

she said
I try to remember it
but it doesn’t stick
in my brain

my daddy said
to remembered prayers
but I find it hard
to make them stay

just make them up
as you go along
I said
don’t suppose

God cares
if you make them up
as long as you mean
what you say

she looked doubtful
Daddy says
to remember prayers
like the Pater Noster

and Ave and such
she said
what’s this
Paster Noster

when it’s at home?
sounds like
a race horse
I said

it’s the Lord’s Prayer
she said
it’s the Latin way
of saying it

I took out
my toy 6 shooter
and rubbed the barrel
on my jumper

don’t pray at all  
you don’t?
well not often
I said

I figure God
has enough people
praying to Him
without me

adding to His chores
she looked at me
her fair hair
tied prettily

with red ribbons
her blue eyes
fixed on me
do you like my gun?

I asked
my old man
got it for me
in some toy shop

as it was going cheap
she looked
at the gun
Daddy said

guns are
the Devil’s weapons
she said
real guns probably are

but this is just a toy
only kills pretend
bad cowboys
although I did shoot

Wyatt Earp
once or twice
I said
she looked back

at her book
and thumbed
more pages
Daddy said

I ought not
to see you
she said
not looking up at me

why is that?
I asked
he said
you’re a Jew boy

and a bad influence
she said softly
I see
I said

she looked at me
and smiled
but I like you
and seeing as

Daddy is away
it is safe
to talk to you
I gazed at her

lovely eyes
pale
a kind of pale
light blue.

Author's Note

PHOTO BY COLIN, O' BRIEN