Her Half Day Off. Poem by Terry Collett

HER HALF DAY OFF.

It was her half day off work
and your afternoon
between shifts
and she had come

to the house
while others were out
at school and work
and after talking

about her job
and the manager
being a pain
and the work

so different from school
you both made love
in your upstairs bed
and afterwards

as she lay there
looking out the window
on the left hand side
she said

my mother will wonder
why I'm home late
on my half day off
you looked at the grey sky

through the windowpane
sensing her beside you
feeling her arm
touching yours

what will you tell her?
you asked
well not
that I've made love to you

she said
turning and smiling at you
why not?
you said jokingly

o yes and never see you again
probably be locked up
in the tower
if we had one

she said
she leaned over
and kissed you
and you smelt soap

and toothpaste
and her hair
brushed against
your forehead

I'll say the manager
wanted me to stay behind
and such and such
she said

laying back
her head on the pillow
you lay your hand
on her thigh

felt her smooth skin
and would he ask you
to stay behind
for such and such?

you asked
maybe to stock shelves
if any of the other girls
weren't in

but not for such and such
she added laughing
you thought back
to the first time you

had kissed her
that Christmas while out
carol singing
with the choir from church

and it seemed
as if angels sang nearby
rather than the choir
and you caught her eyes

in the moonlight
sparkling like stars
in small oceans
what time will your mother

be home from work?
she asked
you looked
at the alarm clock

on the dressing table
at the foot of the bed
about half hour
you said

God we'd best get up
and dressed
she said
or she'll be here

and what would she say
if she saw us thus?
probably hope you
made up the bed

after you
you said
o yes I'm sure she would
I know she's a lovely lady

but I don't think
she'd say that
you both got off the bed
and began to dress

and you watched her
thinking of the times
at school when you used
to gaze at her

across the classroom
wondering as she sat there
what she looked like
without her clothes

or what colour her underwear
and now you knew
(she like some latter day Eve)
and you

her long lost Adam
sans fig leaf or shame
once dressed
she helped you make the bed

and you saw her downstairs
and out into the garden
with the chilly sun
and God's pardon.