Helen Yaks 1955 Poem by Terry Collett

Helen's there
by the shop
her mother's

shopping list
in her hand
she views it

through her thick
lens glasses
she's not sure

of the script
what's that word
Benedict?

she asks me
says butter
I tell her

and how much?
says 1lb
o I see

Helen says
I thought it
was saying

it's better
and I thought
what's better

never mind
I tell her
how's your mum?

she's ok
though baby
cried a lot

in the night
and Mum was
walking babe

up and down
the passage
rocking in

her soft arms
and humming
quietly

Helen yaks
quite a lot
once she starts

I listen
to her words
as she speaks

and Baldy
the shop man
says to her

where's your list
Helen dear?
she gives him

the short list
of items
which he reads

as she talks
and I note
her hair is

in two plaits
neatly done
with ribbons

at the ends
and her eyes
through her thick

lens glasses
are like two
large marbles

and she says
how are you
Benedict?

I'm ok
I reply
seeing one

of myself
gazing back
in each eye.