YISKA'S SECRET 1962

A GIRL TELLS A BOY HER SECRET WHICH HE CANNOT REPEAT IN 1962

We go home
to your place
for our lunch

rather than
school dinners
your mum's out

you tell me
gone to see
her sister

who's pregnant
it's not far
from the school

just a walk
so Yiska
what about

your brother
will he be
coming home?

no Benny
he won't come
he's lazy

he won't get
his own lunch
if Mum's out

you tell me
so just us
here alone?

I ask you
yes that's right
but don't get

any ideas
you shouldn't
you tell me

laughingly
you sit me
in the lounge

I can get
a sandwich
if you like

and a cup
of posh tea
which Mum buys?

that'd be great
I tell you
watching you

walk away
with that swerve
of your hips

then you're gone
and I look
around me

smell polish
quite a lot
everything

is tidy
the settee  
has cushions

large and soft
the TV
is quite big

with large doors
I wonder
what your small

bed is like
but then I
remember

I saw it
once before
when you brought

me back here
when your mum
had wanted

to see me
because you
her daughter

(her Yiska)
had spoken
about me

so often
then you're there
with a plate

and sandwich
and a cup
of posh tea

and something
for yourself
you sit down

next to me
it's best ham
with some cheese

you tell me
I thank you
looking at

your small hands
then your eyes
if we're quick

with all this
maybe we
can do things

on my bed
so we eat
and we drink

as we talk
and I think
of your bed

but just then
your brother
(the eldest)

decides to
return home
for his lunch

from his work
what's all this
our young kid

brought a boy
home for lunch?
he's smirking

Mum won't mind
you tell him
I'm silent

eating up
studying
what he does

he goes off
to get lunch
we best go

you tell me
so we do
walking back

towards school
you tell me
I am glad

you were there
why is that?
you're silent

for awhile
because he
touches me

you tell me
and does things
have you told

anyone?
I ask you
of course not

he is Mum's
favourite
she would not

believe me
if I said
you reply

you mustn't
tell no one
promise me

you tell me
I won't say
anything

I reply
once at school
just before

the bell rings
we kiss lips
then you go

as the school
bell rings out
then you're gone

out of sight
and I think
what you said

about your
big brother
and what you

said he did
when alone
a secret

between us
not to tell
like catching

a small glimpse
of someone's
private hell.