SOMETHING ABOUT SIMCHA.

THREE SCHOOL BOYS IN 1950S LONDON.

Abir walked across the playground
with hands in his pockets
chewing gum
head slightly

to one side
where the heck
is Simcha?
Abir said

he said
he'd be in today?
maybe he's ill
I said

giving his cousin one
more like
Abir said
he doesn't like her

that much
I said
like her much or not
he'd poke her one

if he could
I frowned
what's the frown for?
Abir asked

didn't he bring in
that magazine into school
with those naked women?
didn't he have a pair

of his cousin's panties
in his pocket last month?
I watched Abir
spit the gum into a bin

in one shot
his tongue
running over his lips
loads of boys

get hold
of those magazines
with naked dames
just a learning curve

I said
and those panties
of his cousin
were put there by mistake

he thought
it was his handkerchief
I said
O come on Benny

the kid's a sex fiend
I wouldn't trust him
with my sister
Abir said

you haven't got a sister
I said
well if I had
I wouldn't trust him

with her
Abir said
we stood by a wall
hands in pockets

ABIR
Simcha called
from across
the playground

ABIR
well look you’s turned up?
Abir said
Simcha raced over to us

his blonde hair
in a mess
his school tie loose
about his neck

how are you doing?
Abir asked
greeting Simcha
with a smile

O the trouble
I've had this morning
that cousin of mine
hours in the bathroom

never known anyone
spend so much time
in a bathroom
he said

that's girls for you
Abir said
they spend more time
in a day in there

than we do
in a year
I looked at Simcha
there was a love bite

on his neck
beneath his left ear.