1952 London
As the red bus roared home
along Hammersmith High Street,
London plane trees dragged screeching
nails across top-deck windows.
Passing the bomb site, a child
wearing a red scarf pretends to fly
- still she doesn’t remember.
But letting herself into the dark
basement flat, dropping keys
on the dresser, she turns and sees
the budgie clinging to the picture rail,
sees the open cage - and feels
her heart lurch, as the terrified bird
flies screeching around the room.
It is a family story. How the toddler
turned up one hour later, standing
alone and silent on the basement steps.
The mother laughs, remembering,
leaning across to touch her unsmiling
daughter: See, I tried, I really tried,
but I never could manage to lose you.
Page(s) 42
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