Ice Cream Van 1956 Poem by Terry Collett

The ice-cream van
drew up
in the Square.

Kids stood
in a queue
to buy an
ice cream or lolly
depending
how much money
they had as to what
they bought.

Once the kids
or adult
had gone
he pulled down
the window
got in front
and started up
the van.

It was then
that us kids
held on
at the sides
out of sight
and held on
as long as
we could
before he
went too fast
or too far
then jump off
at the last minute
on to the tarmac
travelling along
trying to stand up
and not fall down.

Why do you do it?
Janice said
you might
hurt yourself.

Some kids
fell over
I managed
to stand
on my feet.

It's a bit of fun
I said.

But you might
have fallen
underneath
she said.

No way
he's going away
from us
when we jump off
I said
want a cool cola
from the 1d shop?

Ok
she said.

So we walked on
up through the Square
and across
Rockingham Street
and along
to the 1d shop.

It was hot work
hanging on
to the side
of the van
of the ice cream man.