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The Catalogue
By Talisker
10 September 2006
When we were nine, the only "porno" we had was pages 784 - 826 of the John England catalogue.  Our strayings from the "Santa" pages was a somewhat open secret.  This was in about 1975 - I remember the incident still.

Oli


There was Gran and her pal Anne,

Sharing a fag, chewing the rag,

“Watch where they look, in that book,

Those boys, there’s more than toys!”

We already had, women scantily clad,

Modelling underwear, others all bare,

In showers, we’d stare for hours,

Keeping a finger spare, in ceramic wear,

Just in case, slightly red of face,

We’d be caught, where we shouldn’t ought,

To be browsing, thus arousing,

Suspicion, of some frisson,

Pre-pubescent, yet strangely pleasant,

Further spiced, by Anne’s advice,

For she took pleasure, in equal measure,

In small boys cowering, self-deflowering.

 

Oli.

Reviews

Written by shadowplay (41 comments posted) 10th September 2006
There's something strangely arresting about this, as if one is actually experiencing your memory for themselves. I'm unsure, though, whether I like the rhyme scheme: it's one of those that works but sometimes for me, at least, it feels a bit strained and I lose track of meaning. I think I need to read it again a few times and check I have an interpretation of it for myself.

Written by Phil (6393 comments posted) 10th September 2006
My mum had the Gratton's catalogue, but I'm with you all the way on this one. Ah, those (relatively) innocent days. 
 
Good, evocative (of youth, not filth) stuff. 
 
All the best, 
 
Phil.

Written by JourneyAtNight (301 comments posted) 10th September 2006
hee hee...I like this! And personally, i like the rhyming - i think it flows well, particularly for this piece as it reminds me of a nursery rhyme or limeric which enhances the idea of childhood (and its mischief!) 
well written 
E xxx
A clever poem
Written by JasonDJ (16 comments posted) 12th September 2006
This is a topic that's familiar, but originally handled. I particularly liked the lines 'Just in case, slightly red of face, /We’d be caught, where we shouldn’t ought,/ To be browsing, thus arousing'. The run-on rhyme scheme makes this particularly fluent. Possibly the earlier lines, where the rhymes coincide with the ends of phrases - 'Watch where they look, in that book' - are a bit stodgy. And perhaps you need to pay a bit more attention to rhythm. 
 

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