I remember a girl
Tall and thin
Wearing a see-through blouse
Which I unbuttoned
To fondle and kiss
Her uncovered breasts
Later we had intercourse
For which I was prepared
I had brought a Featherlite
Which she showed me
How to lubricate and install
We were both of age
But only just
She was the vicar’s daughter
To begin
The movements were slow
But quite soon
We were going steady
Then it all ended
And we didn’t see
Each other naked ever again
Out of Mind
I often return
The house
The lane
The road
The esplanade
The sands
The sea
Undressing
My mind
Step by step
Door by door
Doubt by doubt
Into the present
Out of the past
The body aches
Yet it is the red light
Which stops the motion
In this time
Of deep fakes
I feel authentic
Out we go
With the horses
For all our sakes
If and only if
After visiting
Those places
Once again
From childhood
From vacations
From joyful times
And contemplations
She lifted
We raised together
However
She travelled further
I twisted
We turned forever
Nevertheless
I tried always to impress
Last summer
The conifer had to go
Its very presence
Was affecting the growth
Of a much prettier tree
Why oh why
Where they ever placed
So close together
Now I notice
In January
That the pretty tree
Itself has been trimmed
Several times before
Why oh why
Did they have to fight
For the same space
Think that thought
You know it can be done
Think the unthinkable
Although do know this
The unthinkable thought
Cannot be thought
Float on a cloud
Think
To experience and explain
The sensation
The weight
The colours
The observations
Swim
The unswimable mile
Thinking all the while
I can do this
I will do this
I can
And I will
I for one
Think of breakfast
Sat alone often
Although returning
Many times
To many places
To think
Similar thoughts
Of past
And potential
Futures
Walking
To the café
Alone
In the country
Many places
Tourist traps
As well as on salt marshes
I think of you
Nowhere else to go
We recognise the shapes
Circle square rectangle dot
What more then to show
We wear the capes
Mountain sea river spot
There is a tree
I wish to find
Which I last climbed
In Nineteen-Sixty-Three
The end of the fool
I passed the Eleven-plus
Travelled by Baddeley’s bus
To Penistone Grammar School
It was a time of fear
Innocence was raised
Nightmares invaded
Eyes and mind once so clear
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