A WHOLE LONG TIME 1962.
Posted: October 5th, 2015, 6:03 am
John sees Elaine
get on
the school bus
he is of two minds
whether to study her
as she goes by
maybe even smile
or look away
in case some other sees
and tease her
as they are
wont to do
and Goldfinch
beside him
talks about the goals
he scored
at lunchtime
and how the best one
was on his left foot
John nods his head
but doesn't care a fig
he wants to see Elaine
and she is there
along the aisle
her eyes behind
her thick lens glasses
looking downwards
her hair windswept
or looking so
and her sister
behind her says
come on Elaine
where's the funeral?
why so slow?
Elaine moves on
and as she passes
gives John
a quick glimpse
and small smile
and looks at him
for the briefest of time
yet the time
seems to him
an eternity
as if the world
has stopped
and it is just him
and her
and her smile
lasting
the whole long while.
get on
the school bus
he is of two minds
whether to study her
as she goes by
maybe even smile
or look away
in case some other sees
and tease her
as they are
wont to do
and Goldfinch
beside him
talks about the goals
he scored
at lunchtime
and how the best one
was on his left foot
John nods his head
but doesn't care a fig
he wants to see Elaine
and she is there
along the aisle
her eyes behind
her thick lens glasses
looking downwards
her hair windswept
or looking so
and her sister
behind her says
come on Elaine
where's the funeral?
why so slow?
Elaine moves on
and as she passes
gives John
a quick glimpse
and small smile
and looks at him
for the briefest of time
yet the time
seems to him
an eternity
as if the world
has stopped
and it is just him
and her
and her smile
lasting
the whole long while.
