They stood inside
Baldwin's herbalist shop
looking around
at the various jars
and bottles
on the side
and shelves
going up high
Helen looked to see
if Benny's arm
had stopped
its imaginary bleeding
it had
so she removed
her girls' handkerchief
from his arm
it's stopped
she said
stopped bleeding
he looked
at his arm
where Jessie James
had shot him
in the gunfight
on Meadow Row
bomb site
so it has
he said
rubbing at
the pretend wound
how can I help you
youngsters?
the man said
at the counter
gazing at them
can we have
two glasses
of sarsaparilla
please
Helen said
to make some blood
as Benny here
was wounded
by Jessie James
in a gunfight off
Meadow Row
bomb site
or it could have been
Frank James
Benny said
I couldn't be sure
in the shoot out
the man nodded
and smiled
and went and got
two glasses
of sarsaparilla
and brought it to them
Benny paid the man
the coins from
his jeans' pocket
and they stood
by the window
and peered out
as they sipped the drinks
other people came in
and were served
some wanting other things
than sarsaparilla
what are you doing
afterwards?
Helen asked
might go to Jail Park
on the swings
he said
can I come too?
she said
of course
he said
if you want to
they sipped
their drinks
in silence
then she said
Betty's arm's broke
it came out
of the socket thingy
how'd that happen?
Benny said
she looked
at the other people
in the shop
my brother did it
swung Betty around
by her arm
and she hit a wall
and the arm
came out
she said
Benny looked at her
shall I try
to mend it?
he said
no Mum said
she'd do it
or get Dad
to do it
when he
comes home
from work
but she told
my brother off
for breaking
my doll's arm
Helen said seriously
Benny looked at her
standing there
in her thick lens spectacles
and her large eyes
gazing at him
and her white blouse
and red skirt
(slightly stained)
so they drank
their drinks
and left
but the other people
in the shop
talked together
and remained.
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem