Leaning slightly forward

Alan Finlay

I open the glass door       where the children played,
and he climbs the ladder       to touch the landed star
it was gone when he touched it       although seven times
he wants to climb the ladder       the last time
           calling his mother to       “come see”.

When he has his hair cut       he sits nervous in the chair
leaning slightly forward        tense as a mouse
trying to follow the scissors with his eyes.      When

they spray water on his hair       he screws his face up
like the beginning and end of fruit.

He is brave. He reaches for the fruit       after the star
has landed in the lounge       where the ladder is
after the plumber left.       And for the next two days
he climbs up to the geyser       with his plastic wrench

because the “water is broken”

                                  *

                               i leave

deep wood in his body.       Lumber there
for the lumber yard      for the things
my father might have left me      with rough hands
soaked in sawdust.
                                 i think someday
he might build something       a shelf
    or maybe something in between
a place for storage      for the things i haven’t left him –

The things i leave him are quiet as wood
old railway sleepers      knotted in kikuyu
the gardener’s blade      cutting hair

i leave him my face      a bowl of stars
on the dining room table      as i leave
for work      hugs and a scowl
    the rain understands the roof
                                 i leave him this

LitNet: 25 April 2006

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