John Osborne is

Responsible for the girls
who hang like lemon trees off Unthank Road.
Cherry lipped and lovely they walk clean in front of cars
and do not drop the milk.

He meets them in the Garden House
wearing green T shirts, supping Khroneneberg blond.
In the launderet he unfolds compliments caught in sheets,
and whispers 'lettuce wash your duvet' to the ones with small hearts.

In the green grocers he helps them palm
apricots and avocados
a quart of sunflower seeds for later by the lake.
He lingers outside the paper shop
too hot in his duffle coat, scanning obituaries.