Janet Loverseed
Remembering a Future
This house I live in now didn't exist
when you died. Nevertheless I picture
you here in this room: you, Mother, elegant
as always, sit on the sofa and cross
your fine stockinged legs; while you, Dad, standing
there in front of the fire, are saying
(and not for the first time either) 'My word,
it's grand having a room this size!'
For in my memory you've been here often,
and loved the place as I'm still learning to.
And I believe you'll have visited me
wherever I live, your both being dead
no barrier to your inspecting my new
carpets and curtains, or toasting some cheese
in my new kitchen, or testing a bed
in an upstairs not yet built.
I'm glad you come. I'll need you forever:
to admire the views from all my windows,
and to taste for sour or sweet, the apples
from the trees of all my gardens.
when you died. Nevertheless I picture
you here in this room: you, Mother, elegant
as always, sit on the sofa and cross
your fine stockinged legs; while you, Dad, standing
there in front of the fire, are saying
(and not for the first time either) 'My word,
it's grand having a room this size!'
For in my memory you've been here often,
and loved the place as I'm still learning to.
And I believe you'll have visited me
wherever I live, your both being dead
no barrier to your inspecting my new
carpets and curtains, or toasting some cheese
in my new kitchen, or testing a bed
in an upstairs not yet built.
I'm glad you come. I'll need you forever:
to admire the views from all my windows,
and to taste for sour or sweet, the apples
from the trees of all my gardens.
Page(s) 36
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