Saxons And Such 1956 Poem by Terry Collett

I saw Janice
sitting at the front
of class
beside another girl.

I was at the back
of class
with Cardamom.

Janice had her fair hair
tied with a red ribbon
at the back.

Cardamom smelt
of the unwashed.

Mr Finn talked
of Saxons and Angles
and raids and pillaging.

I watched as Mr Finn
chalked on the black board,
his fingers holding
the chalk tight.

Guess what I saw?
Cardamom said quietly,
leaning his head
towards me.

No what?
I said.

Two kids kissing
in the bog,
he said.

I liked Janice's fair hair
tied with the red ribbon.

Cardamom talked on
about who they were:
fecking kissing,
he said,
two boys.

I nodded,
but said nothing.
I watched Mr Finn's chalk
bring a Saxon to life.

Then wondered
if it was drawn
from memory
or from his head,
from life maybe
his sour-faced wife.