TOUCHED IN 1962

A BOY AND GIRL AFTER SCHOOL IN 1962

Spectacles
thin wire frames
long dark hair

it's Sheila
John's thinking
(has her name

in his head)
and she's there
by the gates

just as he's
going home
on the bus

from the school
he pauses
five minutes

beside her
you ok?
he asks her

she blushes
looks at him
thought you'd gone

she mutters
I've not long
he utters

kids pass them
as they stand
by the gate

they're hands touch
stealthily
she senses

his hand there
slightly cold
the fingers

she squeezes
warming them
his thumb rubs

her hand's back
feeling smooth
and softness

thought of you
while in class
the teacher

waffling on
about war
she mutters

thought of you
in lessons
on science

he replies
how to make
frog's legs dance

by using
electric
he tells her

hesitation
hands release
must go now

he utters
and he's gone
to his bus

and she stands
watching him
feeling odd

as if touched
by the hand
of her God.