My Dad at 80
My mother says he barmy,
keeps taking the wrong road,
stares into space,
even has to be reminded
to read the newspaper.
He tells me he gave up bowls
because every week
another friend had gone
and he kept wondering
who’d be next.
She’s at the end of her tether,
has to think of everything,
never gets a minute.
She says she only relaxes
when he’s in bed.
He tells me he spends
all his time with her
because he hates to be alone,
and all he wants for his birthday
is ten more years.
She asks why he’d want that
and he smiles like he did
when he hooked a duck
at Hull Fair and says
the alternative doesn’t appeal.
Page(s) 31
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