INGRID AND THE FEELING OF BEING LIKED.

A BOY AND GIRL IN 1950S LONDON

Ingrid was still tender
where her father beat her
so she lay
not sat

on the grass
outside Banks House
by Bath Terrace
with Benedict

so her family
couldn't see her
Robin Hood
supposedly fired

his last arrow
at where
he wanted to be buried
Benedict said

read it in a book
I’m reading
she watched him
has he talked

the quiff of hair
the grin
and the hazel eye stare
where did it land?

she asked
in Sherwood Forest
some place
he said

was Maid Marian
with him at the end?
she asked
I think so

Benedict said
but kind of old then
I guess
best to die young then

she said
while you're still
good looking
and have love

held on
until the end
she looked
at his patterned

sleeveless jumper
the black short trousers
the grey socks
the 6 shooter gun

tucked into
an holster
belted
around his waist

guess so
he said
some do die young
Billy the Kid did

he added
she moved
and winced
her eyes closed briefly

he watched her
how's your old man
behaving?
Benedict said

she said nothing
but looked
towards the coal wharf
where lorries

and horse-drawn wagons
stood being loaded
with sacks of coal
a train past over

the railway bridge
cluttering noisily
like that is it?
he said been

up to his tricks again?
she looked at him
and then up
at the block of flats

behind them
I must have done
something wrong
she said

so he said
Benedict said
she looked at him
moving her legs

to get comfortable
he said I was asking for it
she said
I went by him

on the stairs
the other evening
and he gave me
the the hard man stare

I just grinned at him
she looked away
yes he said you did
she said

he doesn't like you
she added
ditto
Benedict said

she was silent
she looked
as a horse-drawn wagon
moved away

from the coal wharf  
a man sitting on the top
holding reins
I like you through

she said softly
as the wagon went by
at the end
of the road

with its heavy load
we could have a ride
in the back
of a coal wagon

he said
good fun
do you like me?
she asked

of course I do
he said
I meet you
and talk to you

and we go places
don't we?
he said
yes we do

she said
how about a 1d drink
and an ice lolly ?
he said

she nodded
another train
steamed overhead
on the railway bridge

by the Duke of Wellington pub
and so they got up
from the grass
and walked back along

the grass
through the Square
he talking
about Robin Hood again

she looking at him
taking in
his words
sensing

the tenderness easing
as she walked
feeling close him
as he had one hand

on his six shooter gun
as he walked.