GURIEL'S OFFER.A Poem by Terry CollettTWO SCHOOL BOYS IN 1950S LONDON AND BOY SCOUTS.Guriel said I should join the Scout Movement we have lots of fun we set up our tent go collect firewood from the woods light fires with two sticks of wood rubbed together eat beans and sausages cooked over a camp-fire drink tea or coffee cooked in a big pot stuck in the fire sitting around the camp fire singing songs and also how to tie and untie knots we crossed St George’s Road on the way home from school what do you think? he added after a moment's silence from me do you know the plague of London in 1665 was probably started by rats carrying the fleas that brought the Plague getting off ships I said Old man Fin told us in history today I know said Guriel I was there where in London in 1665? I said jokingly no in class when Mr Fin was telling us we went down the subway our voices echoing along the walls so what about joining the Scouts? he asked no not my scene I said I’d rather pick lice from Zimra's head but it's good Guriel said all boys together no pesky girls about spoiling our fun O well that spoils it for me I said no girls no deal Guriel frowned they have their own group it's called Girl Guides or Brownies if they're young girls he said maybe I’ll join the Guides I said you can't it's for girls only we came out on the New Kent Road O well that's me stuffed then I said but it'll make a man of you Guriel said you can join one of the armed services when you leave school no thanks I said my old man said it was the worse days of his life in the army I’d rather work in a garage or theatre sell ice creams in the cinema we stopped at the corner of Meadow Row well if you change your mind he said it's over by the church hall over there he said and he walked off and I walked down Meadow Row thinking about my mother's meat pie watching a swooping black bird in the afternoon sky. © 2014 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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