Poetry Magazines - The best collection of poetry magazines online - Simon Armitage

Poetry Library Southbank Centre - The Poetry Library housing the Arts Council Collection at Southbank Centre

« Previous item
Contents of this issue
Next item »

Anthony Wilson

print this page

Another Call to Richard

This time late at night about Andrew,
whom we'd baby-sit on fine June evenings in the suburbs.
What about Andrew? I say. Are you going ?
You've got to haven't you he says.
I mean we knew him. Only twenty-seven I say.
He was all right, really, Andrew he says,
I mean, I liked him. I liked him too I say.
Are you going? he says. I suppose I say.
I mean, I should, I want to, I liked him too.
I say it again. I liked him too.
What do you remember? he says.
I remember - I say,
I remember his smile he says,
you know, confident, but shy.
His smile I say, I remember that.
I remember him asking you about school,
you know, the questions pouring, on and on at you.
And he punched me once in the balls,
must have been about seven,
didn't mean to, he was just the wrong height.
Twenty-seven he says, twenty-seven.
He was never Andy, though, was he, I say, always Andrew.
Yes he says, it's funny.
He never went to bed, did he.
He never went to bed, he says.
All those questions, about everything, he never stopped.

 

Page(s) 52

Back to top