Some Table Talk 1962 Poem by Terry Collett

Sheila sat
opposite
her sister

at breakfast
you tell-tale
she lip mouthed

pulled a face
Sheila is
being rude

to me Mum
Ella said
that's enough

no nonsense
at breakfast
Mother says

Father reads
his newspaper
page 2 girl

Ella prayed
a short prayer
over meals

with eyes closed
as I said
(Mother said)

I want no
boy trouble
or seeing

or talking
understand
Sheila?

Sheila sat
eating at
her breakfast

just talking
nothing else
she muttered

they were close
together
sitting down

on the field
Ella said
what field?

Mother said
school field
where we sit

during lunch
recess time
Ella said

Mother eyed
Sheila
what were you

two talking
about then?
Mother asked

just about
butterflies
that he's seen

Sheila said
the first thing
in her head

butterflies?
Mother said
is that all?

And birds too
he likes birds
and knows names

and things on
them egg types
and all that

Sheila said
is he soft?
Father said

birds indeed
but what sort?
Feathered kind

Sheila said
I saw them
sitting close

Ella said
doing what?
Mother asked

just talking
Sheila said
but she wished

that John had
kissed her lips
as she wished

kissed her neck
put his hand
on her thigh

tickled her
to giggles
you're too young

for any boys
Mother said
no sitting

or talking
with any boy
Father gazed

at the girl
on page 2
Ella stared

at Sheila
I want to
be a nun

and I shall
prayer for you
when I am

Ella said
Sheila thought
of John's hand

and his lips
his kisses
and touches

and wished that
he had done
what she dreamed

in the night
maybe she
thought he might.