RETURN FROM TANGIERS 1970

A BOY AND GIRL RETURNING FROM TANGIERS AFTER AN EVENING OUT IN 1970

We were in the back
of the truck
returning after
an evening in Tangiers

the desert road
was empty
the moon
was bright and full
the sky
like a black cloth
stretched above us

you can
share my tent tonight
Miriam said

how comes?

the plump girl
I share with
is sharing with
the ex-army guy tonight
in what she said
was a romantic coupling

they've been keen
on each other
since Sans Sabastion
I said

he was sharing
with you at one time

yes he was
I said
he bored me witless

Benny you are unkind
she said

no honest
if I shared with him
one more time
I'd have jumped ship
on leaving Gibraltar
I said

she laughed
we swayed
as the truck took
a turning
and she fell onto me

I know you're keen on me
but let's wait
until we're in your tent
I said

she kissed me
and there was a shush
of mushy voices
around us
from others
returning  

Miriam gazed
at me deeply

my hid loins
were burning.