LIZBETH VIEWED 1961

SCHOOL BOYS AND GIRLS IN SCHOOL IN 1961

I stood at the top of the
boy's playground
with Dave. You were
there in the girl's playground

playing skip rope with a
group of other girls.  
You see that redhead?
Dave said. I looked

over at you. Yes, I said,
you know her? Heard
of her, he replied, name's
Lizbeth somethingorother,

bit of a goer a kid in her
form class said. I watched
as you skipped as two other
girls turned the rope, your

feet leaving the ground,
your skirt rising as you rose up.
You know her? Dave said.
No, I said, seen her about.

Your red hair flared in the air
as you went up like a bird
in flight. Best avoided,
Dave said, girls are mostly

my Dad said, nothing but teasers.
I nodded then talked of Mr G
in metalwork and the tea caddy
spoon I was making. You looked

over at me and smiled, waved
a hand, I waved back behind
Dave's back, wishing you would
skip again, to see your hair in

flight like a red winged bird.
Dave walked on with me slow
unleashing word on boring word.