THE TRY ON 1963

TWO GIRLS IN EIRE IN ABED ROOM IN 1963

Magdalene
shows her room
to Martha

(her parents
said not to
bring Mary)

Martha stares
at the walls
see a small

crucifix
above a
single bed

glad you got
Jesus here
Martha says

Magdalene
looks at her
in a long

black slim dress
hair cut short
you still want

to be a
bloody nun?
Magdalene

says to her
bride of Christ
I'd call it

Martha says
turning round
and looking

deep eyed at
Magdalene
want a drink?

what you got?
gin all right?
make it large

Martha says
no need to
piss around

half measures
Magdalene
pours two gins

both large ones
want music?
who you got?

Bill Fury
or Elvis?
Fury's best

Martha says
sitting down
on the bed

Magdalene
puts on the
Fury disc

then sits down
by Martha
both girls sip

their large gins
what would you
say if I

kissed you once?
Magdalene
says softly

just the once?
unless you
wanted more

why kiss me?
thought Moran
was your one?

like you both
equally
(though Mary

was more hers
sexually)
its a sin

you know that?
Martha says
just a kiss

no sin there
don't want to
go further

Magdalene
informs her
(lying through

her back teeth)
further what?
Martha asks

I don't want
bed you here
(fecking liar

her mind says)
why bed me?
I'm not one

for sleeping
in the day
Martha says

she sips gin
and ignores
Magdalene's

hand touching
her plump thigh
Christ sees us

sees all things
Martha says
Mary says

that some times
Jesus turns
a blind eye

does he now?
Martha asks
that Smithy

boy tried to
get his hand
underneath

my school skirt
I thumped him
on his nose

Magdalene
informs her
did it bleed?

his big nose?
on his white
fecking shirt

just one kiss
on the cheek
Martha says

taking off
Magdalene's
hand from her

plump warm thigh
finishing
off her gin

with a sigh.