Bit Of A Mystery 1961 Poem by Terry Collett

Summer afternoon,
butterflies fluttering past,
lying in the tall grass,
Benny and Jane,
side by side.

That's a Gatekeeper,
Jane said,
pointing at a butterfly
passing overhead.

You know
so many names,
Benny said.

I've studied
my father's book
of butterflies for years,
she replied.

Do you tell
your mother we kiss?
she asked.

No she never asked
and I never say,
he said.

But would you
if she asked?
Jane said.

Guess so,
but I can't see
her asking,
he said,
would you?

She gazed at him.
I would have to
if she asked,
Jane said,
I can't lie
to my parents.

Have they asked?
He said.

No not yet,
but I think they wonder
as I am out with you
quite a lot
and we are 13
so she might
Jane said.

Would she mind?
Benny asked.

She might wonder
where it might lead to,
Jane said softly.

He looked
at the blue sky
and the slow moving
white clouds.

Lead to?
he said.

Things might happen,
she said,
looking away from him.

O I see,
he said,
but didn't quite see,
it was all a bit
of a mystery.