I was young in that photograph
The first wisps of what my mum called 'bum fluff'
was growing on my top lip.
I wore an ill-chosen, tight-fitting casual sports top
with collar pulled up at the rear
My hair brushed back and blow dried
I looked 'trendy'
It was all the rage!
I was young in that photograph
maybe 14 or 15
and next to me
knee to knee
my grandfather smiling
his glasses worn into his face
like a helpful tattoo
marking visual age
A packet of half-smoked Players
in his breast pocket
and a gold band on his wrist
edging in an Italian tan
Dressed in a blue shirt and slacks
he sits there proudly laughing out towards me
from Christmas 1987
Caught
Frozen
Forever
and on his knee my younger thinner sister
smiling with closed eyes at the happy new year
we were about to enjoy.
Oh Baz I absolutely love love this. So evocative and nostalgic which is where I seem to be at these days following Father's Day. You sound like a young Eric Cantona ;)
ReplyDeleteHi Dolly. Thanks for the compliment. I started writing this a month or so ago, but couldn't get the last lines to work the way I wanted. It's still clunky in parts. It does bring a bit of a tear to my eye though, when looking at old photo's. If I knew then what I know now etc. It's amazing that you can hold the past in your hand like that.
ReplyDeletelol @ eric cantona, haha. I was trying to be more like morton harket.
your blog is great
ReplyDeletei enjoy read it:)
Thanks Mycroft, Sorry I haven't written anything new for a while.
ReplyDelete