ONE SUNDAY 1960

A BOY AND GIRL IN LONDON IN 1960

It's Sunday
and Fay's dad
has gone off

for the day
on some big
religious

meeting thing
which leaves Fay
free to go

out with me
(after Mass
with her Mum)

so we go
to the park
Kennington

Park is best
it's bigger
has more swings

roundabouts
and long slides
so we ride

on the things
then lie down
on the grass

and she says
I'll miss you
Benedict

once I've gone
off with Mum
miss you too

I reply
do you know
when you'll go?

no not yet
she utters
I watch her

lying there
beside me
taking in

each aspect
of her eyes
of her hair

at the long
yellow dress
short white socks

the black shoes
she's eased off
want ice cream

I ask her
yes thank you
she replies

I get up
and go get
2 ice creams

from a van
that's nearby
and we sit

in silence
eating them
just 2 kids

12 years old
coming up
to 13

she's pretty
sitting there
some goddess

with bright eyes
with sunlight
on her hair.