Ted Hughes - Fulbright Scholars lyrics

Where was it, in the Strand? A display Of news items, in photographs. For some reason I noticed it. A picture of that year's intake Of Fulbright Scholars. Just arriving - Or arrived. Or some of them. Were you among them? I studied it, Not too minutely, wondering Which of them I might meet. I remember that thought. Not Your face. No doubt I scanned particularly The girls. Maybe I noticed you. Maybe I weighed you up, feeling unlikely. Noted your long hair, loose waves - Your Veronica Lake bang. Not what it hid. It would appear blond. And your grin. Your exaggerated American Grin for the cameras, the judges, the strangers, the frighteners. Then I forgot. Yet I remember The picture: the Fulbright Scholars. With their luggage? It seems unlikely. Could they have come as a team? I was walking Sore-footed, under hot sun, hot pavements. Was it then I bought a peach? That's as I remember. From a stall near Charing Cross Station. It was the first fresh peach I had ever tasted. I could hardly believe how delicious. At twenty-five I was dumbfounded afresh By my ignorance of the simplest things.