SCOUTS’ “AIDE MEMOIRE” IN RHYME
hair is the barometer on men’s emotional life
it stays all the way to old age, death and after
temple fade, shoe, surfer, tapered or bouffant
hair is the barometer on men’s emotional life
rockabilly, high fade with hard part and quiff
rattail, mullett, Bowiecut, hawk, gelled or burr
hair is the barometer on men’s emotional life
it stays all the way to old age, death and after
© Rodney Wood
INSTRUCTION IN CARE AND CLEANING
Caught the bus that passed hell, took me to paradise.
A prefab from the war. Metal window frames
the philosophers stone above the entrance.
You were supposed to touch it when you entered.
I had an office I shared with Boris with his black
glasses, red hair, crew cut and wide grey trousers.
He was always bending over and talking about computers
I had a dream about him once. It scared me.
At 10 we heard the clunk of a metal trolley
along the corridor and Doris yelling “tea and buns”
The urn strong, scalding tea. Chelsea, Belgium and Rock buns.
Lovely Doris with a gun by her side and a smile.
Then she was gone, broken free at last to her garden
willow herb, stinging nettles, garlic, dragon’s teeth
and lives forever in summer but I was imaging it.
She was drowned and her body was pined to the earth.
© Rodney Wood
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