Merryn Williams
Fighting Cocks
We stood in the school playground, a boy and a girl
who hated each other. For no good reason, each said,
I can hold my breath longer than you can. And then we both tried,
and a little admiring crowd came round. And his cheeks
grew purple, and I felt the vein in my neck throb, and it
seemed to grow dark, but I was aware of the red brick
school buildings, and the outdoor lavatories, and the voices
which shouted, Come on, Christopher! Then a prowling
adult said, What’s going on here? and a huge breath flooded
my lungs, and we both gave up at the same time.
Page(s) 154
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