Underhill Scores 1962 Poem by Terry Collett

Underhill Scores 1962

Rating: 3.5


Underhill stood
in line with you
in the boys'
changing room
waiting to be picked
for the football team.

The PE teacher
walked the line
eyeing each boy in turn
picking whichever boys
he wanted
for the team
as he went.

He walked
past me
without even
looking at me.

He picked Underhill
who stood at the end
hands behind his back
eyes forward
staring at
the opposite wall.

You Underhill
can be centre-forward
the PE prat said
walking back
up the line
to select the last
few members.

He passed me again
and chose Jupp
as left back
and Rolland
as goalie.

Those of us
who had not
been chosen
stood in line
looking around.

You Brown and Tope
can be lines-boys
the rest of you
will have to watch.

The PE prat
walked off
and his team
followed him out
onto the field.

We no bodies
walked behind
the team
and stood
on the sidelines
waiting to watch
the match against
another school.

I was glad
I wasn't chosen.

I preferred
to watch
or look over
to the girls
playing netball
in the playground
seeing if any girl
I knew was there
jumping
and reaching high
their bodies beauties
in motion.

Underhill scored a goal
and a cheer went up
he jumping around
like a big girl.

But I turned away
and watched
the real girls
with their
bouncing bodies
and hair and curls.

COMMENTS OF THE POEM

Dear poet, Thanks for sharing such sweet memories of your school days. i calculate the age when this happen it is sweet fifteen.

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