Some Place Else 1962 Poem by Terry Collett

Miss G talked of Mendelssohn
put on some record
of some cave

Yehudit looked
back at me
at the back of class
and smiled

her eyes and that smile
drove me wild
moved me
to thinking things

Reynard sat next to me
drawing a matchstick figure
of Miss G in his exercise book
at the back

the music started up
the rest of the kids in class
sat still and listened

Yehudit turned
to the front

I sat thinking about her
taking in her hair
and shoulders
how her hair
touched her shoulders
and I wished
I was her hair
and could touch
her shoulders or maybe
her school skirt
that I could embrace her
or maybe her
hidden bra
that I could...

the music played

Reynard drew

Miss G sat
in her chair at front
gazing at the class
or sat with eyes closed
nodding her head

I wished
I was with Yehudit
some place else
instead.