NOW THEN

you sang softly,
when I was a sleepy child:

"Down at the station..."

wie ma wellies tecked awa in,
an ma faither's faither's bunnet on,

till I closed my eyes
to dream of now...

Now? I know everyone's dyin'
only, you're dyin' faster, eh?

My chromasones
are on full alert.

At least those which you could claim
with fingerprint truth

are reminders of your own
black and white childhood.

Where I stood in Howard Park,
in shorts, knee high grey socks, pocket full of marbles...

staring at the empty cinder pitch
from the fenced off swings and roundabout.

Even then, I knew
that deep scar on your knee,

where I'd sit and fall to sleep
dreaming of a prodigal now.

 
 

back