Coming from a background of theatre, broadcasting and journalism, Robin Fry was born in 1932 in Palmerston North. She is a graduate of Victoria University of Wellington and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (London). Author of three poetry collections “Weather Report” (Inkweed) 2002; “Daymoon” (HeadworX) 2005 and “Inside It” (ESAW) 2006, Robin Fry won the open section of the NZ Poetry Society’s International Competition in 2008 and in 2001.
  S  e  c  r  e  t  s    blackmail press 24
Robin Fry
New Zealand

index
Secret love

Six years old
and swollen with a secret
I longed to share

but who with?

My parents were away
“on the high seas,” Ruth said.
She was the adult
trusted to look after me
while I lay sick in bed.

“Can I tell you a secret?”
“Of course you can” she said
as she bent over to tuck me in.

“I’m going to marry Hewitt
when I grow up,” I whispered.

I’d had time to think.
Hewitt was her younger brother.
He had all the attributes
tall as he was, dark – yes
and certainly – when I stole a look –
handsome as any prince
seen in a fairytale book.

“Are you!” she said
and went away
carrying my secret with her.
It seemed more real somehow
now that we shared it.

“Look who’s here to see you,”
Ruth said next day.
I looked up to see Hewitt filling the doorframe
his head almost touching the lintel.

“I hear you’re going to marry me
when you grow up,” he said
with cheerful confidence.
He didn’t seem to mind a bit
in fact, judging from his tone,
I thought he actually liked the idea

and then I saw his smirk…

“but – how did you know?”
“How do you think?
Be careful who you tell things to,”
he smiled at Ruth
who stood now at his shoulder, grinning too

until they saw my face.