Enid's Apprehension 1957 Poem by Terry Collett

Your father
is in a mood.

Your mother wary
walking around him
trying to please.

You dress for school
hoping he won't
pick up on you
no matter
what you do.

He sits at the table
by the window
the radio
pushing out music.

He mouths
his breakfast
in silence
eyes staring
into space.

Your mother
sits opposite
sipping her tea
gazing at him
apprehensively
on the edge
of the chair
fingers pushing
through her hair.

You sit
in between them
facing the window
the net curtains
filtering the light.

They had rowed
in the night
you couldn't sleep
lay there
watching the door
in case he came in
an overflow
from the row.

You spoon
in cereals
looking at
the table cloth
not wishing to be
the victim
of his wrath.