SCOOTER RIDERS 1958

A BOY AND GIRL IN LONDON IN 1958 AND RIDING TOY SCOOTERS

Where Gloria lies
Lydia once lay
Gloria's boyfriend
sleeps beside her

(Gloria)
& Lydia having to sleep
in the cot bed
feels the aches and pains

in a bed too small
and sits moodily
on the red tiled
front door step

gazing at the Square
chin in her small hands
pouting lips
the baker with his

horse drawn cart
goes by
the man with his boxer dog
walks on by

waves as he
is wont to do
his dog sniffing
the ground

her father's voice
sounding from indoors
her mother's voice
bellowing above his

Benny rides along
on his imaginary horse
& rides over to her
sitting there

what's up?
he asks
fed up
she replies

staring at him
my big sister
& her boyfriend
still have my bed

& I'm stuck in
the cot bed &
I ache & feel angry
& I could spit

I see
Benny says
getting off
his pretend horse

anything I can do
to help?
only if you kidnap
her boyfriend

& send him off
some place
Lydia says
what you doing

anyway?
she asks
standing up
& rubbing her behind

which had become
pins& needlely
I was going to ride
my blue scooter

but you can come
& we can share it
along & down
Rockingham Street

he says
she looks at him
& says
ok if I can

have a ride
even if it is blue
or
he says

I can ask my sister
if you can borrow
her red one
will she let me?

Lydia asks
sure to if I ask
nicely & promise
her some sweets

he says
ok
Lydia says
let's go then

so they walked up
to the flat where
Benny lives with his
parents & sister

& brother
& he asks his sister
who says yes
& so Benny & Lydia

ride off across
the Square
on the two scooters
& Benny has

(for safety against
bad cowboys)
his two 6 gun
shooters.