To My Nine-year-Old Self: Helen Dunmore
You ust forgive me. Don't look so surprised, to lunge out over the water
perplexed , and eager to be gone on the rope that swings from that tree
balancing on your hands or on the tightrope long buried in housing -
You would rather run than walk, rather climb than But no, I shan't cloud your mornin . God knows
run
I have fears enough for us both -
rather leap from a height than anything.
I leave you in an ecstasy of conversation
I have spoiled this body we once shared.
slowly peeling a ripe scab from your knee
Look at the scars, and watch the way I move,
to taste it on your tongue.
careful of a bad back or a bruised foot.
Do you remember how, three minutes after waking
we ld jump straight out of the ground floor window
into the summer morning
That dream we had, no doubt it's as fresh in your
mind
as the white paper to write it on.
We made a start, but something else came up -
a baby vole, or a bag of sherbet lemons -
and besides that summer of ambition
created an ice-lolly factory, a wasp trap
and a den by a cesspit
lid like to say we could be friends
but the truth is we have nothing in common
beyond a few shared years. I won't keep you then.
Time to pick rosehips for tuppence a pound,
time to hide down cared Ian
from men in cars after girl-chil ren
exe.
, 5 し、0 ルゾー
-、 、も に( 、
、
に 新
まいもし、
.い ↓ , 0い-は第 、& に ・
気0
朝,こイ、
ヘ5 、 イに ぃ 式4 0 人
はいユい第
You ust forgive me. Don't look so surprised, to lunge out over the water
perplexed , and eager to be gone on the rope that swings from that tree
balancing on your hands or on the tightrope long buried in housing -
You would rather run than walk, rather climb than But no, I shan't cloud your mornin . God knows
run
I have fears enough for us both -
rather leap from a height than anything.
I leave you in an ecstasy of conversation
I have spoiled this body we once shared.
slowly peeling a ripe scab from your knee
Look at the scars, and watch the way I move,
to taste it on your tongue.
careful of a bad back or a bruised foot.
Do you remember how, three minutes after waking
we ld jump straight out of the ground floor window
into the summer morning
That dream we had, no doubt it's as fresh in your
mind
as the white paper to write it on.
We made a start, but something else came up -
a baby vole, or a bag of sherbet lemons -
and besides that summer of ambition
created an ice-lolly factory, a wasp trap
and a den by a cesspit
lid like to say we could be friends
but the truth is we have nothing in common
beyond a few shared years. I won't keep you then.
Time to pick rosehips for tuppence a pound,
time to hide down cared Ian
from men in cars after girl-chil ren
exe.
, 5 し、0 ルゾー
-、 、も に( 、
、
に 新
まいもし、
.い ↓ , 0い-は第 、& に ・
気0
朝,こイ、
ヘ5 、 イに ぃ 式4 0 人
はいユい第
