Some Distant Shore 1962 Poem by Terry Collett

The finishing touches
applied to hair and eyes
and Sheila is ready for school,

her elder sister
prim and proper
and plain as grey
stares at Sheila's image
from the back
sitting on her bed
brushing her hair
thinking of how tarty
her younger sister is,

how God would judge
she knows not nor care,

names you called out
in your sleep last night she says,

Sheila stops her touching hair
and turns and stares,

names? what names?

her sister eyes her
don't know couldn't make out
boy's name sounded like,

Sheila studies her
elder sister's gaze,

the slit of lips,

dark eyes staring,

probably that male teacher
I don't like him
always telling me off
Sheila says,

which male teacher?
the sister says,

Sheila looks away
the sky is clear today
blue and white clouds,

Mr P with eyebrows
dark as bats and eyes likewise
Sheila says,

shouldn't mock our teachers
disrespect of teachers is a sin
the sister says
hands in lap,

God has placed them
where they are for a reason
He alone knows
and we not to judge,

Sheila sees birds fly the sky
wishing she could too
he mocks me
Sheila says,

why does God permit
that if He does allow?

her sister stares
and her slit of lips tighten
and she says no more,

thinking no doubt
of her Jesus standing
and calling her
from some distant shore.