Childhood Friends
I've known you since you were nine or ten
when you played with my sister in her cardboard den.
You were a skinny bean pole, a silly little thing,
the first girl to get to me, with your incessant chattering.
Whenever I lifted my head, you always seemed to be there
haunting me with your presence and getting in my hair.
Repeatedly I told you to scram and even chased you away,
but you returned to play the game you liked to play.
In the late fifties on Alvaston park, on Sunday afternoons
a number of us listened to Radio One's top twenty tunes.
Whilst we were singing and dancing like typical noisy teens,
you were in the corner of my eye trying not to be seen.
When school days were over I entered a different world,
the sixties brought crazy times along with forward girls.
I had my share of girl friends and searched for more,
but then I noticed you, the girl next door.
You had changed from a caterpillar into a gorgeous butterfly,
but you couldn't see it, and didn't want to try.
I noticed your potential but was too busy to spend the time
to date and impress you, with partying and wine.
Besides your rural boyfriend preferred you as you were,
a girl that dressed like a boy with no feminine flare.
Several months later you asked me to take you out
sometime when I wasn't busy or gadding about.
I took you to the places I used to frequent at night,
you were without doubt a stunning sight.
You bought stylish clothes and changed your hair,
it was a privilege to take you anywhere.
Your boyfriend objected and didn't like the new you
he didn't know what else you were likely to do.
He made you choose between town and country,
but it really came down to him or me.
poem by Orlando Belo
Added by Poetry Lover
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