I had just finished
sawing logs
with my dad
when Lizbeth came
and stood
by the back gate
she smiled
and I nodded
who's your friend?
Dad said
her name's Lizbeth
from school
I said
he smiled
and walked in
the back door
to have a cup of tea
and smoke
rode on my bike
to get here
she said
leaning on the gate
her red hair
in a ponytail
she was
in a short black skirt
and white blouse
and an open coat
what are you
doing here?
I said
I'm with Jane
not at the moment
you're not
she said
anyway no reason
she should
hog you
all to herself
the virgin queen
you're a virgin
you tell me
I said
yes but she
wants to be
and I don't
there's a difference
she said
I stood facing her
by the gate
the air smelt
of cow dung
and earth and flowers
from the hedge side
bright sun
what do you
want me for
there are others
who'd oblige
I said
I don't want others
I want you
she said smiling
I'm with Jane though
I said
not now you aren't
besides I've come
all this way to see you
why not just
have a walk with me
it won't harm
she said
suppose not
I said
where'd you want
to walk?
anywhere not muddy
she said
let's go
to the little church
where we went last time
I said
that's a good mile
she said
yes 15 minutes walk
I said
she sighed
and we walked off
along the lane together
she talked
of her moody mother
and boring father
and her goody-goody brother
who had married
and gone off
with a buffoon of girl
she said how one night
when they stayed
she crept along
to their room
and listened at the door
as they were at it
at what?
I said
having sex
by the sounds of it
she said
should you
have listened?
I said
of course all part
of leaning
she said grinning
she asked me
about my family
and I told her
she said
her mother
nagged her to death
about not having
her room tidy
about not doing chores
about having music
too loud
on the record-player
or radio
then she told me
other things
I didn't want
to know.
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem