O So Much 1962 Poem by Terry Collett

Elaine sits
on the loo
before school

she takes down
a small book
butterflies

(her father’s)
opens it
in her palm

scans pages
with fingers
and her eyes

just in case
John says
have you seen

suchandsuch
butterfly?
she picks one

at random
from the book
Adonis

Blue she sees
captures it
with her eyes

and holds it
the image there
to tell him

the real one
she had seen
on the grass

at their school
one lunchtime
as they sat

on the field
he talking
(as he does)

her small hand
near to his
she feeling

odd feelings
inside her
about him

his closeness
then she saw
that soft blue

butterfly
on the grass
look at that

she had said
John had looked
Adonis

Blue he said
but his hand
touched her hand

she sits there
on the loo
closes up

the small book
puts it back
on the shelf

thinks of him
and his touch
wanting him

and his hands
and his lips
o so much.