Lizbeth Stumped 1961 Poem by Terry Collett

Benedict
had left school
well at least

that one school.
Lizbeth thought
she'd not seen

him about.
She asked West
a boy who

was in the
school class
Benedict

had been in.
He just left
West told her

his father
got a new
job elsewhere.

She was shocked
he'd not said
not a word.

She was stumped
dream shattered
she wouldn't

have sex with
him after all.
No matter

how she tried
he wouldn't
not in church

(on a pew)
or her room
or his room

or that barn.
Dream shattered
she had tried

all her best
now he'd gone.
Early days

her mind said
other fish
in the sea

another
string to her
violin

(what a thing
to call it)
she murmured

sensing tears
in her eyes.
And that night

in her bed
she couldn't
get the fact

of him not
being there
out of her

dreams and head.