I'll Never Forget You, Dad

My Dad

I’ll Never Forget You, Dad

Riding tea tray down with bro
Auntie Edie’s staircase
You spanked me with my shoe
Fence climbing lark
Scolding, held my torn finger tenderly
I see the scar remembering
I’ll never forget you, Dad

Nicknames you gave me
Grizzler Gradwell, to  Galoping Hairpin
From toddler to teen
And Squibbs that stuck
Wish you could see me now
As cybersquibbs.com
I’ll never forget you Dad

Born too soon to avoid
bullets and bayonets in foreign lands
before I was born;
Coldstream Guardsman at Buckingham Palace,
Came bearskin hat and royal tales to
Earlsfield flat
I’ll never forget you Dad

Hoisted up to see
Oxford and Cambridge boat race
You and me cheer light blue
Dark for Mum and bro, chocolate too
Your shoulder perch I watch
A royal funeral pass
I’ll never forget you Dad

Counting pounds on eiderdown
First house downpayment
Now we move to Kingston.
Mums rose trellis her pride and joy
Constructed with care and love
Fireworks chase down garden path
I remember it all, Dad

You are here when music airs
Jazz, opera, dance or marching band
Sharing Sunday gramaphone spins
Awaiting winkle pedlar front room;
Hum reveille as you bring us tea
In bed
I’ll never forget you Dad

Territorials first to go
Another war, even though
Too old, Mum says,
You’ve done your bit
Yet searchlights need a practiced hand
And leave is frequent you understand
I sure did miss you, Dad

Scared to death huddled in shelter
Underneath Richmond Bridge
No Dad to comfort he is busy
Watching marauding bombers
Cruising through web of lights
Ack ack guns split the night
Missed you so, Dad

Unexpected leave, a sharp reproof
Where were you this late?
Bandaged strapped to stretcher
Ladder tipped out shattered window
Ambulance ride hot cocoa ends practice
Tale is told a proud hug
I’ll never forget you, Dad

Borrowed chariot a rescue
from evacuee hell
Blitz be damned together we stand
Or crowd under dining table
To sleep best we can
through drone and bang
You’ll always be my hero, Dad

I’ll Never Forget You, Dad

Your Squibbs