BENNY AND BAD LANDS 1958

A BOY AND GIRL IN LONDON IN 1958.

After she
and Benny
had cleaned up

Dodge City
(imagined
between them

on the large
Meadow Row
bombed out site)

Lydia
and Benny
walked back up

Meadow Row
to the slope
then up to

the Square and
walked along
to the steps

of her flat
she gave him
back his 6

shooter gun
and Benny
put it back

in the left
hand holster
on his belt

it was good
she told him
best go in

for dinner
you're a good
deputy

he told her
that's ok
she replied

and went inside
(giving him
a quick kiss)

Benny walked
up the stairs
to the flat

where he lived
his mother
was dishing

up dinner
just in time
she told him

where'd you go?
Meadow Row
cleaned up Dodge

he told her
Lydia
was my one

deputy
o that's good
Mother said

he never
said about
the one kiss

not a thing
a young boy
talks about

he went to
wash his hands
musing on

the Wild West
and bad lands.