and run about with your hair standing on end
with your nose dirty and glasses twisted,
with one sock up and one sock down,
and knees: "black as the ace of spades"?
Who would be a girl when you can be a boy
and on your way to school, play with guns and caps,
fill water-pistols down the toilet
and dash out into the playground
spraying friend and foe alike?
Who would be a girl when you can be a boy
oblivious to time, traffic, and passers by,
and with one foot on the pavement, and the other in the road,
make your way home from school - backwards,
playing marbles, all the way home?
Who would be a girl when you can be a boy
and second in command in the Harbour Gang.
And with your coat fastened at the neck,
run Batman-like through the streets?
And woe-betide any other gang.
Who would be a girl when you can be a boy
and for a month plan bonfire night, scouring
shops and alleys, and dragging home from garages
tyre's as big and heavy as yourself. And with your friend
keep lookout, for raiding parties that never arrive?
Who would be a girl when you can be a boy
and be really really really smart!
and jump into bed with your clothes on,
so that you don't have to bother
with getting dressed in the morning?
Who would be a girl when you can be a boy
and watch men at work, especially with steam rollers,
and be a fish-monger's helper on a Saturday
without mother knowing, get paid,
and run home, sniffing your jumper with pride?
Who would be a girl when you can be a boy
and sensing the majesty of ships on the sea,
know, that it is your destiny to be a sailor.
And sit alone on the rocks, your heart aching
as "Vanguard" and "St. Kits", silently, move away?
Who would be a girl when you can be a boy
and single handed and fearless, rescue your teacher
from certain death. And swell with pride
when the teacher, mentioning you, explains to the confused,
the difference between a lumber-jacket and a lumber-jack?
Who would be a girl when you can be a boy
and stuff your head with knowledge when going shopping,
and flaunt it shamelessly, item, by item,
while the girl behind the counter smiles at you lovingly,
and news of your mental prowess, becomes a local legend?
Who would be a girl when you can be a boy,
and fall in love with girls?
__________
N.B. From time-to-time the "Royal Navy" would appear in the town, always in the summer months. They would anchor in the bay just beyond Ramore Head.
Some small alterations were made to the punctuation on 18th February 2010
© Cormac McCloskey
No comments:
Post a Comment