Sheila's Musing 1962 Poem by Terry Collett

Sheila sat on her bed.
School was a bore.
Benny was there,
but nothing happened.

We sat at lunch time
recess on the sports field,
but nothing. Others were
there: girls together or

boys playing football.
I felt all odd inside
being next to him.
Wanted to kiss him,

but I didn't I just sat
next to him listening
to him talk. How I got
through the boring lessons

without getting told off
I don't know. My mind
wasn't in it. Just Benny
in my thoughts. Those hazel

eyes of his. That quiff
of hair. That smile like
that Elvis I've seen in
newspapers. Be dinner soon.

Mum moaned about my room
when I came in just now.
So untidy she said. I wonder
if I will kiss him tomorrow.

Unless it rains and we are
stuck in during recess.
Sheila's mother called her
for dinner. Sheila stood up

and carried her thoughts
of Benny with her down
the stairs to dinner. Sometimes
it felt as if Benny was in her.