Poem: The Key
Today’s nostalgic Poet’s Corner contributions are from Adelaide teacher Rory Harris.
the key
my father lost the key
& the spare
from the garage
in the first year it was put up
so he left his car under a tree
years later a carport appeared
& the tree was cut back
I have just emptied his garage
& laid out a history of neglect
on the verge
a street lived on & bituminised
between race meetings
& Saturday night poker
sometime on Monday
the council will collect
what was picked over
a lifetime
of neighbourhood bargains
the father
it was a good
day for your funeral
overcast & damp
I couldn’t just
step outside
for a cigarette
someone you never
met gave me an A plus
for your eulogy
that’s teacher talk
for better than average
you were better than average
most of the time
as in those moments
of infinite grace
when you ruffled
a cow-lick head of childhood
Rory Harris teaches at CBC Wakefield Street in Adelaide, South Australia.
Readers’ original and unpublished poems of up to 40 lines can be emailed, with postal address, to [email protected]. A poetry book will be awarded to each contributor.
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