A Sunday Afternoon Poem

YOU ARE HERE MY SISTER AND I AM FRAUGHT WITH WORK

DO YOU REMEMBER  THE BURNING  SKIES
AS WE LAY BENEATH THE WHITE PALM TREES
SHIELDING  EYES FROM THE NOONDAY BLAZE
COOLED BY  THE RIVER'S  WELCOME BREEZE

DO  YOU REMEMBER THE  FERAL CATS
THAT  STOLE LIKE  WRAITHS  ALONG THE  WALL
INTO DARK CELLARS  LABYRINTH  STORES
KITCHENERS ARMS AND WEAPONS OF WAR

UNTIL THE DAY  THE SOLDIERS CAME
WITH GUNS  TO CULL  THEIR  YOUNG

DO YOU REMEMBER THE  KITES THAT SCREAMED AND HUNG
MAJESTIC MENACE ON THE WING
OVER THE DOVECOTE  THEY  WHEEL AND  DIVE
AND IN THOSE CROSS HAIRS THE LITTLE WHITE DOVES
FLUTTER THEIR LITTLE WHITE  PLUMES OF PEACE

DO YOU REMEMBER OUR FIRST CIGARETTES
STOLEN  FROM  THE HUMIDOR
COMEDY OF  THRILLS AND NAUSEA
DEAF TO NANNIES FRETFUL  CALLS

DO YOU REMEMBER OUR MIDNIGHT  JAUNTS
ON THE WRAP AROUND  DECKS OF  OUR MASSIVE HOME
PEERING INTO  GUESTROOM SUITES
MOTHS TO THE FIRE OF  ADULTS  HEAT

DO YOU REMEMBER   BIRTHDAYS IN THE  DUNES
MOONLIT  CAMPS AND  DESERT RIDES
DANCING STEEDS OF THE BEDOUIN TRIBES
SWIFT FELLUCCAS  ON THE NILE
GOING TO  CLASS IN A SILVER CLOUD
DARK NIGHT'S  TERRIFYING  GLIMPSE
OF THE ROSEBOWER'S SOMBRE GHOST


I  REMEMBER  CLEAR AS DAY
AS IF IT ALL WERE YESTERDAY
EMBASSY BALLS AND  BALLET SHOES
ADAM HOME  FROM BOARDING  SCHOOL
NEFERTITI'S REGAL GAZE

THE NOBLE  BROW  OF HER PROFILE
THE TREE OF LIFE ON HER SEQUINED  GOWN


FORGIVE ME ANNA FOR SO LITTLE TIME
I GIVE  YOU MEMORY'S HUMBLE RHYME

~ Francesca Kelly