O’Brien brought
cigarette cards
to school
and showed you
what he had
in the playground
and Davis said
who’s the dame?
Veronica Lake
O’ Brien said
holding the card out
between finger and thumb
Sutcliffe took hold of it
and held it close
to his eyes
not bad
he said
you looked over
Sutcliffe’s shoulder
my dad likes her
you said studying
the picture
taking it
from Sutcliffe’s hand
who else you got?
Davis asked
and O’Brien fingered
through the pack
mostly soccer players
and the odd movie star
he said
hey got any Marilyn Monroe?
Sutcliffe said
gazing short-sightedly
at O’Brien’s hands
what’s a matter Eddie
got the hots for her?
Davis laughed
and Sutcliffe pulled
a face
wouldn’t say no
he muttered
wouldn’t say no?
O’Brien said
why Eddie you wouldn’t know
one end of a dame
from the other
you’d end up kissing
the wrong cheeks
Sutcliffe pulled a face
I’ll swap you
for the Veronica Lake
you said
holding it close
to your school jumper
sure
O’Brien said
and you swapped him
with a soccer player
you had three of
and he took it
and tucked it in his pack
and you put Veronica
in your jacket pocket
nice and snug
between the pages
of a jotting book
save and sound
waiting for
your bedtime look.
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
I love this. It'captures the moment and atmosphere of the school break and the conversations eddying around the corridors and playgrounds.