THERE'S ROWING 1958

A GIRL AND HER ROWING PARENTS IN LONDON IN 1958.

There's rowing
from the hall
raised voices

Lydia
opens eyes
her sister

Gloria
(drunken slosh)
still sleeps on

behind her
her parents'
loud voices

rising high
quite musical
as if were

practising
for two roles
in an old

Puccini
opera
Lydia

listens out
for the words
wondering

what's the cause
of the row
probably

her father's
drunken voice
from the Square

in the night
singing out
Rose Marie

she gets up
out of bed
chilly dawn

birds singing
Gloria
is snoring

mouth open
her clothes strewn
everywhere

underwear
on the floor
by the door

Gloria's
boyfriend sleeps
behind her

his dark hair
visible
sticking out

Lydia
didn't know
he'd sneaked in

at some hour
the row stops
a few murmurs

then silence
a door bangs
then a voice

(her mother's)
bellows out
HOPE YOU LOSE

YOUR NOISY
SCOTTISH VOICE
Lydia

wonders if
Benny's up
in the flat

up the stairs
whether his
parents row

as hers do
she'll see him
that morning

in the Square
she'll ask him
when he's there

with his brown
hair and quiff
hazel eyes

and warm stare.