SOMEFINK TO TALK ABOUT

as she passed so did
glances between the
old people. That's the
youngest one, highly
strung, they'd whisper

keeps to herself a lot
bit uppity you know
has more books than
friends, shame really
nice looking girl too

on the Thursday rumour
rippled along the pension
queue. She'd been seen with
the gypsy lad. And her the
minister's daughter.

but he'd warned her,
read her palm as they held
hands. This'll give 'em
somefink to talk about
on pension day

I KNEW YOU

Still at school when I met her, introduced as the grand-
daughter who wants to be a librarian
she had Scottish charm
and books.

Years later she had moved on. I had moved in
working there in her library
she was important in
Wellington.

I moved away from books, tired of venturing down
to the musty, mouse dirt stacks, retrieving
for smelly long fingernailed
sniffy people.

Now with her retired fine hair still wound in that
plait she's returned. As she pulls the cord
for her stop I want to touch her
shoulder and say

"I knew you”

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