FOR HARSH RAIN 1957

She's dressing
in her room
having washed
hands and face
and below
in bathroom/
small kitchen
then fearing
he'd turn up
while she had
her eyes closed
and slap her
nakedness
but dressing
Enid feels
she is safe
as if clothes
were armour
to protect
from Father's
hard hand smacks
but he's not
done that now
for some days
leaving her
uncertain
and he smiles
speaks softly
not shouting
or frowning
as he once
used to do
her parents

are sitting
in the lounge
soft talking
then laughing
her mother
giggling
(where once she'd
be crying
or screaming
as he slapped
or beat her)
Enid feels
on an edge
of a cliff
looking down
at a depth
fearing she
will fall off
and into
her past life
of beatings
and bellows
and he there
watching her
every move
just waiting
for one step
to go wrong
and then whack
and she knows
it won't last
this calmness
this being
Mr Nice
smiles and teeth

that one day

one morning
she will wake
to his hits
once again
like watching
heavy clouds
for harsh rain.