GRAFFITI
You came wilfully into my garden
And built me a wall of words
Beckoning, shackling words
Beautiful – Isle of Yew
And the words crept into my heart
And became a part of it
The wall shimmered in my garden
And I looked to it for delight
But when I reached out to touch
It shattered
And my garden lay littered
With broken words
ALINE WAITES 1973
FASHION’S FACES – THOUGHTS AT KENWOOD
While phantom music permeates the hall
Strummed by a maiden in a golden gown
And godlike generals glower from the wall
The past times courtesans and queens look down.
Deep bosomed prisoners with pallid skin
Each plump wrist manacled with jewelled chain
Does fashion’s face conceal the vice within?
And can a painters brush explore their pain?
Vitality compressed within a cage
What mischief might those hooded eyes belie
The painted shadows of a former age
Seen through a jobbing artist’s shuttered eye
A studied likeness reproduced by art
May never yet reveal the hidden heart
Aline Waites © 2006
I’d met him years ago – he had been a lovely handsome young man with an overdose of charm. It was strange that he should come across to me in the pub and make friends with me again.
He had had a lot of success in show business and I was flattered that he sought me out. He bought me a drink and we sat together on the velvet banquette.
As we sat there I had the impression that people were looking over at us strangely. He asked if I would like him to walk home with me and I said that would be nice.
I remembered the past when we had been a little more than friends. As we walked along he said ‘kiss?’ and I felt happy and delighted – and surprised. I offered him my lips and was horrified to find that the kiss was horrible – really wet and I wondered if that was what it had always been like.
He seemed happy about it and suggested we called in another pub, so we did and sat down. I remembered he had always been fond of a drink and found it rather endearing that his habits had not changed.
Then he said ‘Have you got twenty pounds?’
I was very surprised. I knew I didn’t have a twenty pound note as I had just changed one
‘No I haven’t – but I might have something – I just changed the only twenty pounds I had in my purse’
To my surprise, he picked up my bag and took out my purse.
He found a ten pound note and a fiver
‘That’ll do’ he said and took it.
He ordered himself a drink and one for a friend who joined him at the bar.
I began to suspect not was all well
‘Are you going to pay me back?’
He looked at me with surprise
‘I don’t suppose so’ he said
He and the friend started a conversation
‘I’m going home’ I said at last.
They both said Goodbye very sweetly and carried on their conversation.
I walked home on my own.
alinewaites 