Mentor

~

we spoke again on the telephone

this morning, sadly the first time 

for quite a while, it’s been too long,

you’re eighty-two, me seventy-one

teacher and pupil, a lifetime, 

an unlikely friendship, 

you were a man, me a mere boy

the ten years difference 

a chasm in those days

respect and deference vital

you transforming a young life

without even knowing,

now we speak together

as old friends, equals, 

it was difficult at first

using your forename, it was

never done back in the day,

we talk of politics, sport

grandchildren and of course we

reminisce the victories

and inevitably our health, yours

failing, mine slowly following suit,

as if being trained

one final time to go out 

in yet another blaze of glory

*

©Graham R Sherwood 03/23