Didn't Want To Know 1961 Poem by Terry Collett

I had just finished
sawing logs
with my dad

when Lizbeth came
and stood
by the back gate
she smiled
and I nodded

who's your friend?
Dad said

her name's Lizbeth
from school
I said

he smiled
and walked in
the back door
to have a cup of tea
and smoke

rode on my bike
to get here
she said
leaning on the gate

her red hair
in a ponytail
she was
in a short black skirt
and white blouse
and an open coat

what are you
doing here?
I said
I'm with Jane

not at the moment
you're not
she said
anyway no reason
she should
hog you
all to herself
the virgin queen

you're a virgin
you tell me
I said

yes but she
wants to be
and I don't
there's a difference
she said

I stood facing her
by the gate
the air smelt
of cow dung
and earth and flowers
from the hedge side
bright sun

what do you
want me for
there are others
who'd oblige
I said

I don't want others
I want you
she said smiling

I'm with Jane though
I said

not now you aren't
besides I've come
all this way to see you
why not just
have a walk with me
it won't harm
she said

suppose not
I said
where'd you want
to walk?

anywhere not muddy
she said

let's go
to the little church
where we went last time
I said

that's a good mile
she said

yes 15 minutes walk
I said

she sighed
and we walked off
along the lane together

she talked
of her moody mother
and boring father
and her goody-goody brother
who had married
and gone off
with a buffoon of girl

she said how one night
when they stayed
she crept along
to their room
and listened at the door
as they were at it

at what?
I said

having sex
by the sounds of it
she said

should you
have listened?
I said

of course all part
of leaning
she said grinning

she asked me
about my family
and I told her

she said
her mother
nagged her to death
about not having
her room tidy
about not doing chores
about having music
too loud
on the record-player
or radio

then she told me
other things
I didn't want
to know.