Monday 28 June 2010

The First Time

THE FIRST TIME
He’ll always remember
the first time
She was only 11
and he just 15
A Sunday-school outing to the coast
Everyone else
played ball on the beach
or swam in the blue ocean
They went for a stroll
along the cliff top
and in the long grass
they found it
for the first time
They did not know
that at her age
it was strictly
illegal
They'd had no lessons
at school
Their parents
assumed their innocence
of such matters
He has not seen her since
They both moved on
He did hear
one year
that she married a plumber's mate
from Castleford
Now
He finds it more comfortable
in a bed,
more relaxing in private
after a cosy
fireside drink
But nothing
could ever replace
that first time
in the long grass
on the cliff top,
both of them
scared stiff
in case
someone might walk by
No-one did
© Gerald England

Composed: Ackworth, 1st November 1970

1972 Stillborn (UK)
1986 Pennine Platform (UK)

No comments:

Post a Comment