None Was There 1957 Poem by Terry Collett

I was standing
on the concrete stairs
of our flats
waiting for an Injuns attack

when Enid's old man
came up the stairs quite lively
he saw me and smiled
and said

hello Benny Boy
how are we?
Once upon a time
he would have glared at me

but here he was smiling
and being friendly
(it was as Enid said
unnerving him being so nice)

I'm ok
I said
waiting for an attack
he stopped

and gazed at me
attack? What attack?
Injuns of the Blackfoot tribe
I said

o right
he said
and nodded his head
and was about to climb up

when I said
can Enid come out to play?
He looked at me
for a few moments

then said
I guess so as long
as she doesn't get
into mischief

we never get
into mischief
I said
she's too good for that

(unlike me I mused)
he nodded and went off
up the stairs
I walked to the balcony

and looked over
into the Square
and took out one
of my 6 shooter guns

and held it ready
the milkman was leading
his horse drawn wagon
along by the lower flats

his black hat at an angle
his white coat
buttoned up tight
Mrs Pignut was walking

towards the flats
she was carrying a shopping bag
a cigarette hanging droopingly
from her lips

smoke following her
like a ghost
but no Injuns in sight
any Injuns?

Enid said
coming up behind me
and standing beside me
no not yet

I said
who told you
I was waiting for Injuns?
My dad said

he passed you on the stairs
and that you asked about me
how is he?
I said

she looked at me
he's all right
he seems different
he hasn't hit me or Mum

for a week or two
and it's unnerving
all the time waiting
to see if he will change

and go back to how
he was
she said
tell me if goes back

I said
(although I'd know
by a bruise or welt mark
like I had before)

she nodded her head
we both stared
into the Square for Injuns
but none was there.