If I were to recognise her now it could only be by a glimpse of black fishnet lace stockings between knee- length black skirt and high brown leather boots.
What if she has taken off the boots and stockings?
What then?
Her well-cut clothes were mostly black, if that is any help. Twenty-four hours later I see little of her face. Possibly thirties; features well-formed. And there was that smile, flashed warmly once – on parting.
Why then the smile?
Because we both wrote all the Trident III way from Turnhouse to Heathrow; because what she wrote in blue ink looked like poetry; because we shared the pull-down table between us for our coffee trays. I suggested the shared table; she approved, ‘Good idea’. More writing. She offered me her unwanted sugar and cream. I refused. More writing. For coffee cup two I accepted. More writing.
On arrival she reorganised herself on the inside seat; the flash of black fish-net lace stockings; the warm flash of smile; the word ‘Goodbye’ – twice.
Goodbye black lace stocking friend five miles above the winter.
RAE, 4 March 1974
If I were to recognise her now it could only be by a glimpse of black fishnet lace stockings between knee- length black skirt and high brown leather boots.
What if she has taken off the boots and stockings?
What then?
Her well-cut clothes were mostly black, if that is any help. Twenty-four hours later I see little of her face. Possibly thirties; features well-formed. And there was that smile, flashed warmly once – on parting.
Why then the smile?
Because we both wrote all the Trident III way from Turnhouse to Heathrow; because what she wrote in blue ink looked like poetry; because we shared the pull-down table between us for our coffee trays. I suggested the shared table; she approved, ‘Good idea’. More writing. She offered me her unwanted sugar and cream. I refused. More writing. For coffee cup two I accepted. More writing.
On arrival she reorganised herself on the inside seat; the flash of black fish-net lace stockings; the warm flash of smile; the word ‘Goodbye’ – twice.
Goodbye black lace stocking friend five miles above the winter.
RAE, 4 March 1974