MY FIRST PROPER GIRLFRIEND
The first girl I wanted to marry
was Joan Hunter
her father owned more oyster leases
than anyone else on the river
she had buck teeth
but she looked okay really
we’d sit on her father’s wharf
and watch the mullet together for hours
they will take over the world one day
we loved each other alright
my parents hated us being together
and called her Bugs Bunny
one night my father cut Joan’s dad
with a fishing knife
right down his left cheek
that little protestant bludger
with his stuck-up bitch of a daughter