Poet in School

‘Write about
something that’s happened to you
or someone you know.’ Half an hour
to go, and still nothing written.
Just sitting, face blank as the empty sheet,
shuffling his feet. ‘Come on, son,
you must know something that’s happened
to someone.’ ‘No, Sir.’
‘Your family, your friends?’
‘Sir, my brother’s best mate died.’
‘How?’ ‘Sir, electrocuted. A train ... ‘
‘Was he on the track?’ ‘Sir ... ‘
The empty eyes fill with tears.
Somehow the years between us
aren’t enough to take the words back.

from Not Fade Away, Poems 1989-1994. Published by Bloodaxe Books 1994.