The Flasher

First published in Airengs, Summer 1997 (England)

the car parked
ahead of us
car door opened   

inviting us
to see an exhibitionist 
sitting there

like a baited trap
inviting soft furry animals 
curious as cats

looked in			
saw it
we leaped to escape

running like impala   
as if the veldt were
on fire

flames chasing animals
what we saw might pursue us
listen   you can hear 

our running feet
animals breathing
a storm of hooves

we screamed for our mothers
homework forgotten
the notebook spilled

my new pencil   lost 

Mary Herbert