The trick was to be
asleep before the rail signalman
whispered in with his latest
girl off the midnight train
otherwise the murmurings
would go on and on
whatever the pair did—
at waking they’d be gone.
Those days when boys called you
names that rarely impressed
the girls, who danced, calling you
like Hinder and Posterio;
those days could be got through,
spit on prefects, eat downtown,
talk cadet rifles,
admire one or two.
Staying with your best friend
at his place. And his sister
coming in in worn bathers,
knocking bedframe with her broom,
a year older than you,
quiet touch in her face,
city ahead, and your lies
to dismiss her so undue.
—Les Murray
You have a decision to make: double or nothing.
For this week only, a generous supporter has offered to fully match all new and increased donations to First Things up to $60,000.
In other words, your gift of $50 unlocks $100 for First Things, your gift of $100 unlocks $200, and so on, up to a total of $120,000. But if you don’t give, nothing.
So what will it be, dear reader: double, or nothing?
Make your year-end gift go twice as far for First Things by giving now.
