Helen The Cowgirl 1955 Poem by Terry Collett

Benny showed me
how to twirl
a toy gun
around my finger.

I managed to do
as he said
although it fell off
my finger a few times
before I did it right.

Mum said
it isn't ladylike
to twirl a gun
around my finger
but I like doing
what Benny does.

I like being
Maid Marian
to his Robin Hood
or Mrs Earp
to his Wyatt Earp.

He showed me
how to fire
a catapult
and knock a tin can
off a wall.

Mum wanted me
to help her
clean up
my little brother
as he kicked so
while she changed
his nappy.

I had to hold
his little legs
to stop him kicking
and the smell
was yuk.

On Saturday
Benny said we
can go to
the morning matinee
and see films
and cartoons.

I'll have to ask Mum
and see if she
can afford
for me to go.

Benny said
it's 6d.

Mum looked tired
when she said
it was bedtime.

I went to bed
but couldn't get
twirling a toy gun
around my finger
out of my head.