Exhausted 1965 Poem by Terry Collett

Thursdays were
Tilly's half
day closing

I met her
outside her
workplace shop

and went for
a coffee
and cream bun

opposite
where she worked
busy day?

I asked her
too busy
never stopped

she replied
where do we
go after

having this?
She asked
is your mum

home this time?
I asked her
she's not back

for an hour
or two yet
Tilly said

your place then?
If you like
she replied

so we ate
and drank up
and got a

bus to her
mother's place
Tilly got

out her key
and unlocked
the back door

and went in
I followed
a large clock

went tick tock
follow me
Tilly said

we climbed up
creaky stairs
to her room

sunlight shone
on her bed
a dark pink

candlewick
bed cover
lay on top

she undressed
quite quickly
so did I

into bed
Tilly said
so we did

and were just
starting to
get engaged

when we heard
two voices
down below

in Tilly's
front garden
we lay still

who is it?
I asked her
Tilly got

out of bed
and looked out
the window

my brothers
sawing wood
at the back

she whispered
best get dressed?
I asked her

not just yet
she came back
to the bed

and made love
half an ear
for voices

then lay there
afterwards
exhausted.