Secret And Other 1962 Poem by Terry Collett

Even as Elaine
gets off the school bus
there are jeers

and catcalls
and words like
we'll look after John

for you while
you're away Frumpy
no problems there

and the bus door closes
and it is shut off
and the bus drives away

and she looks at it go
and wonders
what John will

make of it all
after her younger sister
said about her and John

and the kiss on Sunday
and now
the whole world knows

did you have
to tell everyone?
she says to her sister

as they walk
towards home
didn't know

it was top secret
her sister says smiling
anyway they'd find out

sooner or later
anyway unless
you've been doing

anything else
we don't know about
no big deal is it?

What do you mean
anything else?
Elaine says

you know do it
her sister says
do what?

Elaine says frowning
walking on
looking at her sister

sideways on
her sister smiles
don't you know?

You don't do you?
Her sister says grinning
Elaine frowns more

don't know what?
Elaine says
ask Mum

her sister says
and walks on quickly
leaving Elaine

following behind
wondering what the heck
her sister

was talking about
and worrying if she had
not knowing

sensing her face
go red like
a smacked backside glowing.