Paperweight
In a dark room overshadowed by laurels
an old man cradled me on his lap.
His muddled nest of a beard
tickled my cheek.
The sun would burst like a fist
through the window and crystal fire
run round the room, jump over
dusty fans and bric-‘a-brac.
He put into my sticky hands
a wedge of glass, imprisoning
a gold- and silver-veined tree.
A white dove biting an olive leaf
perched on top.
It winked at me with its wicked red eye.
My grandfather tapped it read:
Commemoration of the Armistice
on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day
of the eleventh month. Peace forever
Frightened by his tears,
I slid from his lap,
ran to the musical box,
then turned the key.
I danced round the room,
twirling faster and faster
to the tune of Onward Christian Soldiers.
Page(s) 57
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