The Thick and the Thin of it

for Darryl, my brother


By itchy backs, scratched seeded blackberries,

Nettlesome stings; my brother's foe and dock leaf friend.

Nets of winter morning frosts; stick slapped.

Fearful mother-die we dare not pick;

Of buttercups under chins; yellow-tinted.

Fresh frog-spawn and early death sticklebacks.

I count my time.

Fifty-five oak-ringed seasons;

The thick and thin of it.

Purple patched inner-tubes, coconut headed cricket balls,

         creased caseys

And slack-stringed tennis.

Tin can, kick can

And washing line fever; to skip and whip.

With rattling roller skate and book we rode the road;

Beano and Dandy of 1966.

Bales of broken hay for den and king of castle;

The farmer's fiend.

With shotgun ready we ran in riot of crusted wheat and

      cabbage,

Pit stack sludge; heavy footed.

Tyre swung tree and knacker stretched,

Sheafed knife and compass shoes;

Soles of badger and fox prints.

Stained snake belt, balaclava, and bigger sized willies

We smoked tab end finds; bolder now.

Spat and gozzed; measured our journey's spit.

Dobby and door knocked on mischievous night.

Ran the wind and rain;

Snow sledged our way to school, garrotted snow men

And toasted the sun with a lick of lemonade.