Mary Stopped 1963 Poem by Terry Collett

Sister Martha
stopped me
in the corridor
of the school
her features fixed
in a hard gaze.

Girls are not
to run or rush
in the corridors
Mary Macquire
the nun said.

I stood
and gazed at her.

I am late
for my next lesson
I said.

I do not care
you are not to run
in the corridor
she said.

I was going
to be later
as the old bag
was going to
keep me there.

I want you
to walk back
to the beginning
of the corridor
and walk to where
I stand
she said.

I sighed
and walked back
to where
I began to run
and walked
towards her.

She stood there
staring at me
her hands hidden
from sight
like some magpie
perched there.

Once I reached her
she said
next time you
come along
the corridor
remember to walk.

I said I would
and she let me go on
walking slow
and not rushing
in case she made me
walked it again.

I never
looked back
I walked past
the holy pictures
on the walls
the statue of the Virgin
flowers at her feet.

Once I was
out of sight
of the nun
I stuck two fingers up
in her direction
and walked on
to my next lesson
now late.

Getting an excuse
in my mind
like trying to explain
the colour of the sea
to one born blind.