chrome & paint long with fins
we were six or seven
& Paul’s uncle had this car
all chrome & paint long with fins
we’d push open the quarterlight
go sit in it waggling the steering wheel
making vroom vroom noises
as kids do
& the uncle would come out to us
get out of my car you little shits!
but we knew he wasn’t really angry
‘cos he’d throw coins at us to go away
the way Paul told it his uncle was married
but not to the woman who’s house the car was at
Paul was under orders to never say
where when or if he ever saw his uncle
& as a swap we got to sit in his classic car
all chrome & paint long with fins
pretend to drive
life was sweet
even if we never understood the strange rules
of adults