Next to my Skin

My brother Mark and I in 1964/5

I've never been much of an entrepreneur myself although I admire the spirit. Once I set up a stall outside my house in London when I was no more than 6 years old. I was a brazen marketeer in the Barrow Boy tradition, flogging worthless cast-offs and household rubbish such as empty pea pods for a penny each. My peapod motto, of which I was very proud, was "Surprise the kids at tea time with these trick pea pods!!" I even managed to sell a few but I'll never remember where the inspiration came from.


NEXT TO MY SKIN
18.12.81

MY BROTHER AND I AT SIX AND EIGHT
SELLING PEA PODS FOR A PENNY AT THE FRONT GATE.

MY BROTHER AND I IN SISTOVA ROAD,
KING OF THE LAMP POSTS
AND I THE FASTEST CYCLIST ON THREE WHEELS.

FOR A DARE WE HAUNTED CORNERS,
THREATENING ONCOMING TRAFFIC
BY PLAYING DEAD IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD
AND ROLLER SKATING IN THE GUTTERS.

I REMEMBER CONNING BILLY SWAN
AND MY BROTHER THROWING PUNCHES AT THE BULLY.

ONCE OR TWICE WE EVEN SWORE AT THE DARKIES
BUT WE ALWAYS OUTRAN
THE LARGEST OF THE GANG.

I REMEMBER WHEN WE WERE JUST CONCRETE KIDS
KICKING OUT OUR FANTASIES ON THE PAVING STONES.
BUT NOBODY BOTHERED TO LOOK UNDER THEIR FEET
AT SNOTTY NOSES, OILY HAIR,
URCHINS WEARING OVERALLS NEXT TO THEIR SKIN.

Kristofer