You are Princess Ayesha, the principal girl,
in the youth group’s pantomime at St Barnabas,
West Street, Crewe. Disguised as a boy, you are searching
for Aladdin – your true, lost love – in the canvas
forest and the bazaar, among the painted caves
and the amphora. Heavily Max Factored, dressed
in torn shirt and ripped shorts – having crossed the desert,
outwitted each one of the forty thieves, bested
Abanazar, bamboozled the Genie and charmed
Widow Twankey to be downstage centre – you sang
Buddy Holly’s top of the hit parade, ‘Oh Boy!’
Your story – we had not met then – though embellished,
of course. But I can see you as clearly as if
we had – in what you say, leave unsaid, and do not
know about yourself: lovely, witty, determined,
courageous, heart breaking. ‘Oh boy, when you’re with me,
Oh boy, the world can see That you, were meant, for me.’
Note: first published on the site in March 2010.
AbanazarAladdinamphorabazaarBuddy HollyCrewe. Disguisedheart breakinghit paradelost loveMax FactorpantomimePrincess Ayeshaprincipal girlSt Barnabasthe forty thievesthe GenieWidow Twankey‘Oh Boy!’
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