Lines

I can only draw them

listings, diagonal with dates beneath,

faceless names that tug my heart

 

William, James, Sarah, Charles

Mary, Ann.

 

No pictures, no weathered creases

searching eyes or family noses

indelible identifiable,

 

John, Harry, Annie, William, Elizabeth.

 

No memories recounted, visits made

habits mocked achievements scored,

names repeated, infant deaths, census scribble

 

Dorothy, Mary, William again, Margaret, Harry too.

 

The ones I met but didn’t ask,

didn’t make the time, unimportant then

no holiday postcards no box brownie snaps

 

Judith, Diana and me!

 

 

Graham Sherwood 04/2018