Nineteen hundred and fifty, <br />There were a lot of girls <br />Out on the town then, <br />I was seventeen and <br />Ready for anything. <br />I was told to be sensible, <br />Told to be careful but <br />I knew it all. <br />I was one of the lads, <br />One of the boys <br />That would make the <br />World sit up and <br />Take notice. <br />I strutted like a peacock <br />I was not as courtly <br />As that flashy young bird <br />And my bravado was <br />Very thin on my sleeve. <br />I talked to them on <br />On street corners <br />Eyed their shapely legs. <br />They laughed, the sound <br />Ringing in my ears like <br />Musical drops of rain <br />On a Saturday evening. <br />And then all at once <br />There she was, <br />Wishing she was <br />With someone, and I <br />Without a thought went <br />Up to her and took her <br />Hand and brushed it <br />Lightly with my lips. <br />She laughed then <br />And I laughed too <br />Her hand trembled like a <br />Young animal in mine <br />I whispered in her ear <br />“Will you walk with me” <br />And she nodded <br />So we left the crowd <br />And floated down the <br />Street on gossamer <br />She was sixteen wanting <br />To be a woman and <br />I told her <br />That she could be <br />Anything she wanted <br />She kissed me <br />On the cheek then <br />And became a woman <br />We loved each other <br />For six months <br />And then parted for <br />Pastures new. <br />By the way <br />Her name was Mathilde<br /><br />Mike Tonkin<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/by-the-way-her-name-was-mathilde/
