Benny Loved Fay 1960 Poem by Terry Collett

After school
I met Fay
on the bus.

She said a nun
at school
had talked
about the Mass.

She explained about it
but it was Dutch to me
but I didn't let on
as it seemed
to matter to her.

We got off the bus
and walked up
Meadow Row.

So Jesus is in
the bread and wine?
I said.

Yes under
the appearance
of bread and wine
it is called
a sacrificial meal
I think
Sister Bridget said
Fay explained.

She had lovely
blonde hair
and blue eyes
and she was
so near to me
I could sense her
being there.

Our hands were
nearly touching
just an inch
and they would touch.

We crossed
Rockingham Street
and walked up
the slope
to the Square.

I told her
about Eddie
getting the cane
for talking in assembly.

She seemed upset
about it.

We climbed
the concrete stairs
to the flats.

On the stairs
between
my parents' flat
and hers
we stopped
and kissed.

Lips to lips.

It was warm
and wet.

I didn't want
it to end
but we did.

She walked up
the stairs
and I went down.

I went into the flat
and said hello
to my mother.

I never said to Fay
that I love her.