In the Willows
Intro: Savvi
I can still run
I know what’s around each corner,
no need for hesitation,
but if I stay too long
I might never go back.
Granddad couldn’t remember
how to go from hospital to house,
such vulnerability,
place names he lost
to scrabble, turned over blanks,
always starting a new game.
His Captain’s map
washed away in a blood clot.
So, I keep my hood up
never make eye contact,
long term memory
more precious than short.
I have my map
it’s crumpled,
stained with an old tea bag
for authenticity
and kept beneath the look
on Granddad’s face,
lest I should forget
how to get back to
these streets
and who gave me my name.
© savvi 2023
Views: 1900
I can’t keep reading your poems, Keith – they’re too good and make me feel inadequate. You make exactly the sort of word-leaps I’d like to make –
“I have my map
it’s crumpled,
stained with an old tea bag
for authenticity
and kept beneath the look
on Granddads face”
wonderful! And sad.
Cheers,
Gerald
You do poignancy like few others Keith. I love your work.
Captain(‘)s Grandad(‘)s
You never fail to move me.
Alison x
Flippin eck guys you’re making me blush @ Gerald, Alison and Trevor, you are all outstanding poets with very distinct styles of your own and it is always a pleasure to read and learn from your work. We are blessed on this site with more than our fair share.of talented writers and I thank you very much for all your kind comments. Now at the risk of this sounding like a mutual appreciation society I will leave it there Cheers Keith
Sad and wonderful all rolled into one. A bit like granddad’s life I suspect.