Meeting Benny 1960 Poem by Terry Collett

You saw Benny on the bus;
he sat at the back
on a side seat;
he was with another boy,
you saw him
over your shoulder
as you turned around.

The bus came
to the Elephant and Castle,
Benny got off the seat,
said goodbye
to the other boy,
stood at the back of the bus
until it stopped,
and he got off.

You got off after him
and followed up
behind him.

Hello Benny,
you said.

He turned
and said:
Hi Fay,
where did
you come from?

I was on the bus,
you said.

I didn't see you,
he said.

You both walked
to the crossing
and waited.

Why was you
on the bus?
He asked.

I had to visit a convent
so I can write
about it,
you said.

How is school?
He said.

It is all right,
you said,
not telling him
about the Seven Deadly Sins
you had to talk
about at school.

How's your old man?
Benny said,
still going on his
religious retreats?

You looked at him
by the crossing,
at his hazel eyes,
that quiff of brown hair.

Yes he is
going next month,
you said.

The traffic stopped,
you both crossed the road
towards Meadow Row.

What did you learn
at school today?
You asked him.

Not a lot,
he said,
what about you?

You wasn't sure
whether to say about
the Seven Deadly Sins.

You paused,
he stopped
and looked at you.

What is it?
He said.

We learned about
the Seven Deadly Sins,
you said.

He looked across
the bomb site
on your left.

What are they?
He said.

Well there is sloth,
envy, greed
gluttony, wrath,
pride and lust,
you said.

Quite a lot,
he said.

Yes they are deadly,
you said,
unless one is absolved
of these,
one can go to Hell.

He looked at you;
I like your hair
free flowing,
he said,
it adds to your beauty.

Benny,
you said,
I am being serious.

He frowned;
I do understand
what you say,
but what can I
do about it?
He said,
I haven't those
kind of things.

You smiled:
no I guess not,
you said.

He walked on,
you walked
beside him,
wanting to hold his hand,
but you didn't,
you listened
while he talked
of the cinema
and going there
at the weekend.

Can you go?
He said.

I'll have to ask
my dad,
you said.

Benny nodded,
you walked over
Rockingham Street,
wishing your lips
and his could secretly
and softly meet.