HELEN WIPED HER GLASSES.

A BOY AND GIRL IN 1950S SCHOOL DAY.

Helen wiped

her thick lens glasses

 

with the hem

of her school dress

 

and you watched

her finger and thumb

 

move around the glass

in circular motion

 

Can you see much

without your glasses?

 

you asked

she looked up at you

 

and said

Not much

 

you for instance

are like a small tree

 

without leaves

with thin branches

 

hanging down

you smiled and saw

 

as she lifted the hem

a glimpse of thigh

 

white as one kept

out of sun and light

 

But what do I look like

with your glasses on?

 

you asked

looking at her face

 

and eyes that squinted

quite naked

 

without the specs

A boy who’s cheeky

 

but often shy

especially around girls

 

and their blue eyes

and dark curls

 

and she giggled

and dropped

 

the hem of

her dress

 

and put her glasses on

and her eyes enlarged

 

and gazed at you

taking in

 

your unkempt hair

and school boy grin

 

and at that moment

as she stood stifling

 

her giggle with one

small hand

 

you sensed a love

you neither had before

 

nor could

in the light of day

 

and innocence of youth

quite understand.