Happiness

    for and to Tommy Kelly, 1919-1995 

flies to the surface 
with long-lasting memories, 
playing football in a sepia printed world, 
just me and you. 
I push the ball with my instep,
back and forward the ball slides. 

In the next moment we are having a pint together. 
Now your satisfied look has me breaking the rules 
for all-day smiles. 
We walk home and at the corner 
I see you turn and wave goodbye, 
happiness never dies. 



Tom Kelly’s ninth poetry collection This Small Patch has recently been published and re-printed by Red Squirrel Press who also published his short story collection Behind the Wall. 

Tom says of the poem “Happiness is a snapshot of me and dad together and makes me smile.”