Last Time Maybe. Poem by Terry Collett

Bird song
and the sun
high in the sky

and Yehudit seeing
from your bedroom window
the garden
and the orchard

you can see
the bus go by from here
she said
gives us time

no bus yet awhile
I said

she looked back at me
on the bed
my mother thinks
I am working
all day today
but I have a half day off
Yehudit said

I gazed at her figure
the hips
the waist
the hands
on the window sill
her hair brown
and loose

we have time then
I said

she nodded
and came to the bed
and lay down
beside me

how much time?
she asked

hour or so
before the bus comes
I said

she looked
into my eyes

there's a guy at work
I like
she said
well he doesn't work there
he delivers stuff most days

I looked at her blue eyes
does he know
you're here with me?

no of course not
we're not an item
I just said I like him
she said

maybe you
should be with him
and not me
I said

I am only saying
she said
I like you too
but we don't see each other
that often these days
and I see him
every day

I lay on my back
and stared at the ceiling
so what happens now?
I said

we could make love
she said
I chose to see you today
I could have gone home

two years ago
it was just us
and that first kiss
I said

we were kids then
and at school
now we're at work
and see other people

I guess

I smelt her perfume
not her usual
different
more powerful

she kissed me
let's make us
she said
not argue

our lips met
her hand
touched my thigh

O heck
I said
to hell
with this other guy

and there was bird song
and the sun
was high in the sky.