Ingrid stares
at the sea
the wild waves
the seagulls
we've come down
on the coach
from London
organised
by the church
of gospel
worshippers
what are those?
she asks me
they're seagulls
do they bite?
I don't know
want ice cream?
her brown eyes
gaze at me
no money
she tells me
I've got some
I tell her
is there lunch?
she asks me
I think so
there's money
from the church
for us kids
from poor homes
I tell her
her brown hair
is pinned back
by steel grips
she smiles wide
her rather
mild buckteeth
beam at me
fish and chips?
she asks me
I guess so
can I be
your girl friend
for the day?
want ice cream?
O yes please
she utters
I go get
2 ice creams
from a van
parked near by
what you want?
the guy asks
2 ice creams
with choc flakes
I watch him
fill 2 cones
with ice cream
then plonk in
2 choc flakes
I walk back
to Ingrid
here you are
I tell her
she takes one
and we walk
on the beach
in the sand
8 year olds
hand in hand.
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem