Thinks Of Sheila 1962 Poem by Terry Collett

Once he's home
John passes
his mother

by the stove
how was school?
She asks him

it was fine
he replies
what are you

cooking then?
Irish stew
she replies

O that's good
John tells her
and goes up

to his room
shuts the door
his brother

(much younger)
has gone out
John walks to

the window
and looks out
Hebblewaite

the neighbour
is digging
his garden

John wonders
about the
girl Sheila

he'd seen her
just before
he got on

the school bus
waiting there
by the gates

of the school
hands in her
school jacket

her two eyes
excited
to see him

they had talked
quite quickly
words exchanged

almost kissed
but too shy
must go now

he had said
as the bus
would soon leave

she had waved
blown a kiss
so had he

Hebblewaite
seems to sweat
wipes his brow

John wonders
what she wears
underneath

(Rowland fault
suggesting
during maths)

he can't ask
her that one
or suggest

that she tell
lovely eyes
and that smile

he muses
looking on
as the man

Hebblewaite
wipes his nose
John whispers

Sheila's name
to the room
it sounds like

a steam train
starting up
Hebblewaite

continues
to dig on
John closes

his two eyes
thinks of her
deep within

her beauty
in the flesh
gently lies.