NO SWAN CAME.

A BOY AND GIRL BY A POND IN 1962.

Yehudit walked with me
in the woods
and sunlight pushed
through the branches

of trees overhead
birds sang
a rabbit rushed off
through the thick

undergrowth
she wore
the dark green skirt
and white blouse

school had ended
for the holiday
wonder if our swan
is there

she said
reminds me
of the Wagner opera
I liked the way

the sunlight
lit up her hair
as she walked
tints of dark brown

and light brown
a hair grip
held in place
unruly bits

Lohengrin
she said
that's it
that's the opera

she had undone
the green school tie
the collar loose
the tie untidily

pulled away
neck showed
last time
we saw it

at the lake
(the name
she called
the pond)

we sat and kissed
and you put
your hand
up my skirt

she said
where the blouse
was stretched
her breasts

pushed out
seeking escape
and there was that bloke
fishing over the way

and we didn't care
a toss
she said
I liked how

her soft
plump hand
held mine
her fingers

gripped mine
preventing their escape
had they wanted to
(which they didn't)

yes I remember that
I said
(we only noticed him
just before we kissed

tucked amongst trees)
is it unusual
for swans
to come to our lake?

she asked
I shouldn't think so
I said
(I hadn't thought

about it at all)
as we walked
I glanced at her profile
the nose

the flushed cheeks
the eyes blue
clear blue
as if

in white dishes
her hair brushed
in her usual
careless way

I hope he's not
there today
she said
it's not the same

kissing
in front of others
I doubt he is
I said

Lohengrin
yes I had heard
the highlights
of the opera

on the radio
a few times
the swan bit
she had said about

as we came
to the pond
(my word not hers)
we  saw no one

was there
except ducks
and moor hens
and fish swimming

just under
the surface
we sat
on the warm

grassy bank
and she sat
with her chin
on her knees

her hands holding
her legs
peaceful
she said

a crow sounded nearby
a woodpecker tapped
away at some tree
I could see

the impression
of her bar strap
through the white
cotton blouse

at the back
how do they manage
to undo them?
I thought

my hands each side
of my legs
balancing me
I love it here

she said
I like it anywhere
I said
she turned

and playfully
hit my arm
I meant the place
not that

she said smiling
still no swan
I said
she looked

at the water's skin
a Mallard swam by
do you think of sex
all the time?

she said
pretty much
I said
I thought so

she  replied
there was that heron
landed that time
I said

yes there was
she said
the sun was warm
white clouds

no swan
and us
making love
in my head.