Yiska's School Photo 1962 Poem by Terry Collett

You sit on the grass
in front of the science lab
waiting for the photographer
to take the school photo.

You sit awkwardly
pulling your grey skirt
over your knees
watching the man
fiddle with his camera.

Behind you
other kids mutter
and fidget.

You think of Benny
and taking home
lunch time
of your mother's moodiness
and her moans and groans
and how just once
when she turned her back
you managed to get
just a quick kiss
on Benny's cheek.

Sit still now
the photographer says.

You sit as still
as you can
staring at the camera
hoping he gets on with it
gets on with the photo taking.

Briggs sit still
a teacher says
you wonder what Briggs
is doing behind your back
the big lump.

The man goes behind
his camera
his legs slightly parted.

You wish your mother
had been out at lunch time
then you could
have gone upstairs
but no.

Ready!
The man behind
the camera says
and everyone stares.