Ingrid's old man
was dead
his throat cut
in some drunken brawl
and left out
in the street
to bleed to death
I took Ingrid to Jail Park
to get her out of the flat
and give her mother room
to breath and get
organizing things
about a funeral
and answer
police questions
at the station
we crossed Bath Terrace
side by side
kids on bikes or scooters
rode by
a woman pegged washing
on a line on a high balcony
guess you'll miss him
I said
Ingrid looked ahead
yes I will I guess
she said
miss him not
beating you
and your mum
I said
he didn't always
do that
she said
he was till my dad
and he loved me
we entered the park
and walked along
the paths between
flowered gardens
funny way of showing it
I said
she looked at me
still my dad
she muttered
your brother and sister
left because of him
will they come back now?
I expect so
she said
for the funeral
and see how Mum is
and help with things
we entered the play area
and made for the swings
we got on a couple of swings
and began to push off
with our feet
who cut his throat?
I asked
don't know
she said
the police didn't know
we swung high
I noticed the sky
was a bright blue
white clouds
like woolly sheep
will you stay
around here?
I said
guess we will
she said
miss you if you left
I said
will you?
she said
sure I would
I said
I swung as high
as I could
my feet seeming
to touch clouds
maybe we can
marry one day
she said
we're only 10 years old
I said
plenty of time for that
she was swinging higher
than me now
her drab green dress
flapping in the updraught
guess so
she said
her voice carried off
in the air
her dress blew
up and out
but I didn't stare.
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem