Rugskin And Wife 1935 Poem by Terry Collett

RUGSKIN AND WIFE 1935.

Jackson Square
them sitting there
separated by
two feet or more
of space.

Rugskin
and his wife.

She sitting there
with that flowerpot
looking hat
and coloured
check dress
looking over her
spectacles.

Him
slouched there
black hat
thin framed glasses
gaunt features
unsmiling.

She thinking
of the new dress
she wanted
but he wouldn't buy.

Said it didn't suit her
would make her
look fatter.

You saying I'm fat?
She said
gazing at him
over the glasses.

Didn't say
you were anything
said it'd make you
look bigger
the way it would
cling tight to you
he said.

He thought of her
how she was
when younger
slim and blonde
and a figure
to make him sweat
at nights.

Now he
just sweats
at nights.

She gazed at him
how he was once
a tall trim
keen eyed
young man
whom the other girls
said was
a good catch.

Now she
felt herself
having
been caught.

I liked the dress
she moaned
it would have
suited me.

He looked at her
through his glasses.

Too young for you
he uttered
don't want to be
mutton dressed
as lamb.

She looked away
looked at the kids
over the way
at games
and play.