Started To Rain 1960 Poem by Terry Collett

It had started to rain
as I got to Hannah's flat door.

I knocked
on the black
door knocker.

Hannah's mother
answered the door
and stood there unsmiling
whar dae ye want?
she said.

Hanna said
to come over
yesterday
to play chess
I said.

Tae play chess is it
she said
as if not moving
her thin lips.

Yes she said
yesterday.

Best come in 'en
she said
moving to let me in
then closing the door
after me.

Sit in th' sittin' room.

I went and sat
in the sitting room.

Hanna's in th' lavvy
she said
and she walked off
to the kitchen.

I looked around
the room
I'd been there before
a few times.

I always felt
like a fly waiting
for the big spider
to come.

The toilet chain flushed
and the door opened.

I heard voices
then Hannah came
into the sitting room.

O you are here
she said
I was in the toilet.

Yes your mother said.

Did she bite
your head off?

No just said
to come in
and sit here
I said.

Come to my room
and we can play at chess
she said.

So I followed her
to her room
and she shut the door.

I sat on her bed
while she reached
under her bed
for the chess set
in a well worn box.

She set it on the bed
and put the pieces
where they should be.

I watched her
plump hand
moving the pieces
on the board.

Her brown hair long
but tied back
in a ponytail.

Once she'd done
she sat the other side
of the chess set.

Shall we begin?
she said.

Sure
I said.

You go first
she said.

I moved a pawn
two movements forward.

I could hear
her mother
in the kitchen
banging tins about
and cursing.

Bet she's burnt herself
Hannah said
she always forgets
the oven glove.

She said it coolly
no sign of emotion
no sense of love.