About To Begin Day 1958 Poem by Terry Collett

Lydia's mother stood
in the doorway
of her ground floor flat
arms folded
cigarette in the corner
of her mouth.

Yes?
she said.

Can Lydia
come out?
I said.

Out where?
she said.

Out with me
go see
the steam trains
at Waterloo
train station
I said.

She puffed on
her cigarette
and gazed at me.

You went there
the other week
she said.

I know but we'd
like to go again
I said.

She unfolded her arms
and took the cigarette
out of her mouth
and held it
between fingers.

How you
getting there?
she said.

Getting a bus
I said.

And who's paying
the bus fare?
she said.

I can
I have money
I said
rattling some coins
in my jean's pocket.

LYDIA
her mother
bellowed.

I raised eyebrows
and looked back
into the Square.

Kids were playing
by the pram sheds
the milkman was
delivering milk
over the way.

Lydia came
to the door
and look at me
what is?
she asked
her mother.

Benny boy
wants to take you
to the train
station again
her mother said.

Can I go?
Lydia said.

Her mother sighed
if you must.

What now?
Lydia said.

Yes go before
I change my mind
her mother said.

She put
the cigarette
in her mouth
and went back
in doors.

Lydia smiled at me
and she closed
the door.

We went
on our way
a warm sun
on a just about
to begin day.