Summer 62 And You
That’s the last of school
for a while
she said
as you both descended
the school bus
and walked home
with her sister and yours
walking a small distance behind
any chance you could meet me later?
you asked
have to see
if Mother wants me
to do chores
she replied
[...] Read more
poem by Terry Collett
Added by Poetry Lover
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!
That Year 1968
Father died that year. So did
Bob Kennedy, although that
Was a different death, planned
Right down to the last dark detail.
But your father’s was more personal,
More hurtful, getting right into your
Bones and heart. You were sitting
In the doctor’s surgery with your
Father where he’d come about pains
In the chest and back, when some guy
Came in and said, Bob Kennedy’s dead,
Some bugger’s shot him (excuse my French,
He added, there women being present) .
There was muttering amongst the throng,
Whispers, coughs, splutters, then a silence
Deeper than awaiting death by your father’s
Elbow, seemingly deeper than Nietzsche’s
Haunting eyes. Your father said nothing
That you recall, but no doubt he felt the
Same sadness that most felt that day,
[...] Read more
poem by Terry Collett
Added by Poetry Lover
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!
The Night Dionne Warwick Sang.
Dionne Warwick was singing
you'll never get to Heaven
if you break my heart
over the small white
transistor radio
under the covers
of the bed after
having made love
to your girlfriend
and you both snuggled there
she running a finger
down your spine
and you kissing
one of her small breasts
and the transistor crackled
[...] Read more
poem by Terry Collett
Added by Poetry Lover
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!
Doppelganger or Such Like.
You remind me
of my brother
the woman said
after mass
meeting you
at the back
of the church
poor guy you thought
to look like me
and then the other day
while sipping a latte
at a Nero coffee house
you saw her again
sitting in the corner
with her husband
who was reading a paper
[...] Read more
poem by Terry Collett
Added by Poetry Lover
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!
Fitzsimmons Returns
The mirror never lies,
Your mother said.
You look in it now,
The mirror reflects
You in the midst
Of half way dressing.
You hold the green
Corset strings, waiting
For the maid Fitzsimmons.
You’ve rung for her twice.
No sight of her or sound.
Been busy, she’ll say,
Have other things to do
Other than run around
After you. And she’ll say it
In that Irish tongue of hers,
With her deep blue eyes
Peering into your eyes
As if she sought your soul.
You fidget. Pull the strings.
[...] Read more
poem by Terry Collett
Added by Poetry Lover
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!
While Hair Brushing
Juliette drags the brush
through her hair you have
to brush it at least one
hundred times her mother
had said years ago and say
a prayer each time you get
it through and maybe God
will bless you and as she sits
and brushes her hair she
remembers her mother standing
over her when she was a child
and the hair was as long then
as it is now and oh God she
says how I hated it the knots
and tangles and the number of
times I used to cry each time
[...] Read more
poem by Terry Collett
Added by Poetry Lover
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!
Waiting's Worse.
Waiting's worse. She knows it.
That old feeling known since
childhood. Then it was the parent,
the heavy hand, the punishment.
This is like it, but not like it. She
waits for him to come home. His
footfalls in the hall, his voice along
the passage. To gauge the tone,
the loud or softness. She sits, waits.
Be prepared, the mother said,
years back. The clock in the hall
sounds loud with its tick tock. Puts
hands between the thighs, anxiety
bites. For better for worse, the
vows said. Bruises like medals,
black eyes as reminders, a colour
[...] Read more
poem by Terry Collett
Added by Poetry Lover
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!
Swing Time
You were with Janice
in Jail Park
two kids
looking for kicks
and Janice said
Can you push me
on the swings?
and you said
Sure if you like
and got behind her
as she sat on the swing
her hands holding
the small steel rings
that held the wooden seat
[...] Read more
poem by Terry Collett
Added by Poetry Lover
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!
Nadya Imagines
If she could have got
inside her head, Nadya
thinks, she is sure, her
mind can expand like an
inner universe. The thoughts
moving around like lost
planets, clusters of stars,
images, words, faces, actions
remembered. If she could
just put her hand into a
hidden orifice and reach
into her brain and sort
amongst the galaxies of
ideas she could be brighter,
braver, wiser, and there
[...] Read more
poem by Terry Collett
Added by Poetry Lover
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!
Some Days After School
Some days after school
having slipped by her mother's vision
she met you in the back woods
by the pool
and you were there
in the your tee shirt and jeans
and she stood there
for a moment
in her blouse and skirt
and you stared at each other
taking in the beauty
you saw there
enjoying the moment
the big now
[...] Read more
poem by Terry Collett
Added by Poetry Lover
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!