ONE LEGGED ANNE AND THE ICE CREAM.

[dadio]

You pushed Anne
in her wheelchair
along the path
by the beach

having left
the nursing home behind
having gone through
the back gate unseen

what will they say
when they see
we’re not there?
you asked

we’ll say
we were kidnapped
by pirates
she said

they won’t believe that
you said
who gives a damn
she replied

here we’ve got freedom
and sea air
away from the peering eyes
and all you worry about

is what they’ll say
you pushed her slower
to hear what she was saying
they’re suffocating me

Skinny kid
I can’t breathe
shut up there with
kids gawking

at my one leg
and stump
now push on
and faster

she said
you pushed her faster
looking over your shoulder
to see if anyone

was following you
but none was
where are we going?
you asked

forward and into battle
she said laughing
waving a hand in the air
drawing the attention

of people walking
along the path
and some on the beach
there Kid there

she said
pointing to an ice-cream van
by the side of the path
got any money Kid?

she asked
no I haven’t
you said
lucky for you then

that I have
she said
all this fucking way
with no ice-cream

and I’d have been
pissing myself
with frustration
she muttered

as we approached the van
what are you having Kid?
you stared at the list
on the window

of the van
one of those
you said
pointing out an ice-cream

in a cone
two of those
she said
to the ice-cream man

he made up two ice-creams
and handed them to her
and she gave him
the money

and you pushed her
by the side of the beach
where she gave you one
and you sat

on the side
of a low wall
and sucked away
thank you

you said
you’re welcome Kid
she said
and anyway

take it is a reward
for helping me out
of the bath last night
you looked away

and felt yourself blush
she smiled
her upper lip
touched by ice-cream

her eyes on you
anyway Kid enjoy the day
don’t have regrets
for not doing

and she sucked away
some more
as you watched
the incoming waves

rushing
on the peopled shore.

[theirishsea]

Excellent story in this poem----as usual. One note of criticism----the story gets bogged a bit in "you said"-"she said" And the story runs on a little. I don't know how you would fix it (if you wanted to). You don't want to eviscerate the poem. And the style is your normal "right on target" style. I have mixed feelings about the writing of this poem. The story is great. The unwinding is a little----emphasis on "little"---tedious.

But I always love reading your work. You have a natural humanity that shines through.

[dadio]

Thank you, Irish, for your constructive critique.