Mourning Poem I
Oct 02 2020 · 0 comments· News
Roy Henry Kerley (1934-2020)
Bighead’s Lament
A sodden September night
Between the children’s supper and their bed
I took a rainy walk down to the canal-side
In my dead dad’s gumboots.
The night came far too soon
(How I miss him!)
A week ago we gave him to the flames…
The towpath ducks, dubious of my dark form
Slip to safety – over the water.
My father’s boots are far too big for me
(His hats were always much too small…)
O give me a thicker pair of socks
A shrunken head
A kinder heart
To follow in his footsteps…