Tilted back chair <br />tilted back hat <br /> <br />always spoke <br />as if the world were tickling him <br /> <br />& he couldn't but <br />...laugh! <br /> <br />Amazed & amused <br />(tongue set firmly in cheek) <br /> <br />'Be de hokey...! ' <br />he'd chuckle. <br /> <br />'Be de hokey...! ' <br />he would repeat to himself. <br /> <br />Break off <br />a branch <br /> <br />...tenderly <br /> <br />the tree giving herself <br />to him <br /> <br />...gently <br /> <br />whistle & whittle <br />a man or some <br /> <br />imaginary beast <br /> <br />for my hands to play with <br /> <br />...lovingly. <br /> <br />Tell me <br />(secretly) <br /> <br />that both man & the menagerie <br />of imaginary beasts <br /> <br />were hiding in the tree <br />(already made) <br /> <br />waiting for you to <br />whistle & whittle them out. <br /> <br />'Be de hokey...! ' <br />I whispered entranced. <br /> <br />The rhododendrons <br />were blue with amazement <br /> <br />at this revelation <br /> <br />socks & shirts <br />grew on gooseberry bushes <br /> <br />dragonflies danced <br />upon the summer air. <br /> <br />Often I would revisit <br />this one moment <br /> <br />as if it were <br />the only moment <br /> <br />...ever. <br /> <br />Death...so far away <br />it couldn't even be imagined <br /> <br />as I climb up on your lap <br />and take your hat <br /> <br />sticking my tongue <br />firmly in my cheek <br /> <br />become you <br />as you are... your very self. <br /> <br />Your laughter <br />lost amongst fields and trees. <br /> <br />'Be de hokey...' <br />even Death smiles at us <br /> <br />as you live on <br />in me<br /><br />Dónall Dempsey<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/be-de-hokey-for-lyn/
