Darkly Watched 1960 Poem by Terry Collett

Whit dae ye want?
Mrs Scot said
as she opened the door
of her ground flat
across the Square

is Hannah in please?
I said

diz she ken
ye ur comin?
she said

I looked at her nonplussed
hoping Hannah
would come
and rescue me
from her Scottish mother

I said I'd meet
her here
I said

did ye noo?
she said
she looked behind her
and bellowed
HANNAH
th' loon is haur

I looked behind me
into the Square
then back at Hannah's
mother standing
gazing at me
with her dark eyes

Hannah came along
the passage
to the front door

o Benny
she said
I was in the bog
but I am ready now

ready fur wit?
her mother said

I'm going out
with Benny
she said

whaur ur ye gonnae?
her mother said

see the tennis
on the South Bank
and have a tea
or lemonade
Hannah said

wi' whose bunsens?
her mother said
staring at me
like a hawk

bunsens?
I said

money
Hannah said softly

I have money
I said
rattling the pocket
of my blue jeans

dornt be late
her mother said
I'll hae tatties
an' neebs at 5pm

we won't be late
Hannah said
I nodded an affirmation

better nae
ur I'll tan yer backside
her mother said grimly

Hannah nodded
and we left
and into the Square
and we knew her mother
was watching us
darkly there.