Shedbound
Weekends he escaped to a world away
from ours, crazy-paved corner of garden,
dad-only den; shed air incense of solder,
sawn cedar or pine, heady, glue-thick,
cigarette smoke haze punctured by metal
or wood notes from orchestra of tools.
I see him, stick-thin, still hunched
over thoughts, long after day downs
last dregs of light, intent to crack code
of a repair, design some new gadget
or eavesdrop police channel chatter
on radio scanner. I wanted to be him:
drill with dental precision, perform surgery
on circuit boards – but could only watch,
fetch cuppas and brush up. Wanted to be
his hands, hold them steady in later years,
be his eyes that lost focus, now there
in my reflection; growing reminders of him,
another world that awaits.
Shedbound was first published at The High Window, Dec 2018
In My Father’s Shoes
Some days back from the dead –
your face a mirror
reminder of lost youth
Saturdays at five I hear you
pffting again after
three draws and one away
Fray Bentos pie, chips and peas for tea
out dapper-suited with Mum
to the club still novice
to Brylcreem feeling the pinch
of collar and tie under
sleeveless v-neck cable knit
Sundays I might find myself
at the wheel of your Cortina
stopped whoknowswhere
family seeing off fish and chips
car reek of vinegar
fused with fresh-lit Embassy
Dreams where I’m mistaken for you
in North Wales holiday faces
reflected in gift shop windows
a split-second glimpse
at my awkward gait –
still unable to fill your shoes
Paul Waring’s poems have been published in print journals, themed anthologies and online magazines. He was awarded second place in the 2019 inaugural Yaffle Prize and commended in the 2019 Welshpool Poetry Competition. Quotidian, his debut pamphlet, was published in by Yaffle Press in July 2019. https://waringwords.blog
Good Dadhood 