Richard Jones
Nine Bottles of Squash, a Bucket, A Beach Spade, The Hose Pipe and a Chest Freezer
We made a lolly once,
that lasted all summer.
It sat from June to July,
in the dark of the garage
amongst chicken legs
and frozen peas.
That lolly
quenched a gang of den builders
and tadpole catchers.
I don't remember the year,
but I'll never forget
that discordant trio,
as we knocked on doors,
pockets jingling
singing carols for squash money in June.
And the expressions on faces
as we cleaned a shelf
of the local shop,
buying three bottles a piece.
I'll never forget that hot summer
running home to our treasure chest
testing the ice with a stick.
And the day it was finally frozen
like a brick from an igloo.
It took three of us to lift it,
and prise it from its shell,
the blue beach shovel
buckling
under the orange flavoured bell of ice.
As three boys,
cheeks cold and red,
sucked the life out of summer.
that lasted all summer.
It sat from June to July,
in the dark of the garage
amongst chicken legs
and frozen peas.
That lolly
quenched a gang of den builders
and tadpole catchers.
I don't remember the year,
but I'll never forget
that discordant trio,
as we knocked on doors,
pockets jingling
singing carols for squash money in June.
And the expressions on faces
as we cleaned a shelf
of the local shop,
buying three bottles a piece.
I'll never forget that hot summer
running home to our treasure chest
testing the ice with a stick.
And the day it was finally frozen
like a brick from an igloo.
It took three of us to lift it,
and prise it from its shell,
the blue beach shovel
buckling
under the orange flavoured bell of ice.
As three boys,
cheeks cold and red,
sucked the life out of summer.
Page(s) 61
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