Benny One Mid Morning 1956 Poem by Terry Collett

A fight had broken out
between two boys
in the playground.

A crowd
had surrounded it
and a chant of
fight fight fight
went up
from the other boys.

A few punches
were thrown
but it consisted
mainly of pushing
and shoving
and wild swings
that went no where.

I stood in the crowd
watching seeing
who would win
or throw a decisive punch
but neither did.

Punches landed
on arms or chests
and be absorbed.

None of the girls came
and watched
they carried on
with their games
of skip rope
or hop skip and jump.

My mother had said
if any one hits you
hit them back
if you can't punch
then kick
if you can't kick
bite.

But as I wasn't involved
I just watched.

My money was on
the tall kid
the tubby kid
was slow
and missed more often
than he hit.

Then the teacher came
and broke up the fight
with words of
move away
move away
and stop the fighting.

The two boys were
taken off to
the head teacher's office
and the crowd dispersed
and went about
its mid morning
business of cards
or games of war
with imaginary guns
or swords.

I played cards
with Jupp
head down
not looking around
or up.