SHEILA WAITS.

A GIRL WAITS FOR THE SCHOOL BUS TO ARRIVE CARRYING A BOY SHE LIKES IN 1962

She doesn't know
what time
his school bus arrives
but she waits

by the school gates
nervously
biting her nails
looking at the place

the buses come
other kids arrive on foot
to school
but no bus

as yet
and Sheila starts
to wonder
what she'll say

when the bus arrives
and the boy John
descends
and she there

facing him
and he'll look at her
and will he remember
the day before

and her asking
if she could hang
around with him?
the sky looks overcast

dark clouds
she hopes it will not rain
or she'll not be
on the playing field

to see him lunchtime
or anytime
she hopes it will
stay fine

what's the matter
with you this morning?
her mother had asked
over breakfast

you look like you've
found sixpence
and lost a pound
nothing she had said

trying not
to be too anxious
about meeting
the boy John

even as she washed
and dressed that morning
he was there
in her thoughts

and now as she waits
by the gates
kids pass her by
gawking at her

standing there
with her thin wire glasses
and metal grip
at the side

of her hair
then a school bus comes
towards the school
and her nerves take hold

and she stares and looks
for the boy John
and what she thinks
are his good looks.