BURWOOD 2
father in the lounge
leg crooked up on one knee
cup of tea
four sugars more
pile of biscuits
sliced Genoa
brown apple core
ashtray ashtray ashtray ashtray
crossword puzzle frown
dog at his feet
Brylcream crown
glimpsed through thick fog
of 4 o’clock smoke
spade and hoe in the rack
garden hose rolled back
roses fed and watered
stroke the pussy
cheer the Cats
no time for chit-chat
what to say to all those girls?
happiest with the men
at the front
at the mess
at the lodge
in the ring
in the khaki world
of action and endeavour
and orders from the major
by the left quick march
father in the lounge
his castle and his solace
measured rest
R and R
shotgun in the cellar
rods and tackle in the case
and books by the dozen
and ciggies by the carton
and work work work
and cough cough cough
father in the chair
orange chair
in thin air
thick smoke everywhere
never where
I hoped he’d be
in 1970.
My book of poems, A Day At A Time In Rhyme (Littlefox Press) can be found here: https://www.amazon.com.au/Day-At-Time-Rhyme/dp/0648083861/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=A+Day+At+A+Time+In+Rhyme+Jane+Clifton&qid=1572053238&sr=8-1
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