Evening Adventure 1957 Poem by Terry Collett

I took Enid behind
the ABC cinema
on the New Kent Road
(on an adventure
trip of mine) .

It was dimly lit.

We passed
the side doors
of the cinema
which were
usually locked
from the inside
but sometimes
were open.

You could get in
for free if you were
careful and quiet.

A rat rushed past
Enid screamed
it disappeared
ahead of us.

She grabbed
my arm
a rat!
she said.

Yes I often
see them
down here
in the evenings.

A woman
in a short dress
was standing
against a wall
ahead of us
beneath a light
from a wall.

Who's she?
Enid said.

Don't know
my old man says
prostitutes
are up here
so maybe she's
one of them.

What's a prostitute?
Enid asked.

Don't know
but my old man said
they men happy
so maybe they're
kind of church women
I said.

Maybe
Enid said
should we say
hello to her?

Best not
I said
my mum said
not to speak to people
you don't know.

Enid nodded
O yes
I think my mum
said that.

Another sleeky animal
went past us

Another rat?
Enid said quietly.

No
I said gently
a cat.