Deep Inside 1962 Poem by Terry Collett

Yochana
arrived home
from the school

it had been
a good day
she had seen

Benedict
and kissed him
her mother

looked angry
when she went
in the lounge

you've seen him
I can tell
Mother said

who'd you mean?
Yochana said
you know who

don't pretend
you don't know
Mother said

Yochana
looked past her
mother's head

focusing
on the large
painting there

who told you
about him?
Yochana

asked her stern
faced mother
and sat down

Angela
informed me
at lunchtime

Mother said
how could she
tell on me?

she's my friend
Yochana
then replied

I asked her
where you were
and she said

Yochana
focused hard
at her hands

avoiding
her mother's
angry gaze

I told you
not to be
with that boy

or any
of those boys
at that school

Mother said
you promised
you would not

Yochana
looked at her
stern mother

he's in my
class at school
he's my age

yes 14
just 14
not an age

for mixing
with darn boys
Mother said

you are not
to see him
outside class

understand?
Yochana
said nothing

she could feel
Benedict's
kiss on cheek

that warm feel
that tingled
through her nerves

UNDERSTAND?
Mother screamed
but before

Yochana
could reply
a series

of hard slaps
rained on her
head and legs

and shoulders
and backside
Yochana

still held on
to the kiss
deep inside.