The Swings

A mother younger than
my Colin Bell pennant
Mexico World Cup 1970,
pushes a blonde boy
in a Hollyhedge park .
Slung between swings
the arc of his life is shot
but never dropped. Here
she puts his heart in her mouth
and stares out of the grey snap
at him and his city scarf
flying out towards the universe,
she whispers something
as if praying for his safe return
or at least an away win .


John.G.Hall©2003