Fathers' Day

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