Arts & Entertainment
A Sunday Afternoon Poem
"You Are Here My Sister And I Am Fraught With Work," by Francesca Kelly
YOU ARE HERE MY SISTER AND I AM FRAUGHT WITH WORK
DO YOU REMEMBER THE BURNING SKIES
AS WE LAY BENEATH THE WHITE PALM TREES
SHIELDING EYES FROM THE NOONDAY BLAZE
COOLED BY THE RIVER'S WELCOME BREEZE
DO YOU REMEMBER THE FERAL CATS
THAT STOLE LIKE WRAITHS ALONG THE WALL
INTO DARK CELLARS LABYRINTH STORES
KITCHENERS ARMS AND WEAPONS OF WAR
UNTIL THE DAY THE SOLDIERS CAME
WITH GUNS TO CULL THEIR YOUNG
DO YOU REMEMBER THE KITES THAT SCREAMED AND HUNG
MAJESTIC MENACE ON THE WING
OVER THE DOVECOTE THEY WHEEL AND DIVE
AND IN THOSE CROSS HAIRS THE LITTLE WHITE DOVES
FLUTTER THEIR LITTLE WHITE PLUMES OF PEACE
DO YOU REMEMBER OUR FIRST CIGARETTES
STOLEN FROM THE HUMIDOR
COMEDY OF THRILLS AND NAUSEA
DEAF TO NANNIES FRETFUL CALLS
DO YOU REMEMBER OUR MIDNIGHT JAUNTS
ON THE WRAP AROUND DECKS OF OUR MASSIVE HOME
PEERING INTO GUESTROOM SUITES
MOTHS TO THE FIRE OF ADULTS HEAT
DO YOU REMEMBER BIRTHDAYS IN THE DUNES
MOONLIT CAMPS AND DESERT RIDES
DANCING STEEDS OF THE BEDOUIN TRIBES
SWIFT FELLUCCAS ON THE NILE
GOING TO CLASS IN A SILVER CLOUD
DARK NIGHT'S TERRIFYING GLIMPSE
OF THE ROSEBOWER'S SOMBRE GHOST
I REMEMBER CLEAR AS DAY
AS IF IT ALL WERE YESTERDAY
EMBASSY BALLS AND BALLET SHOES
ADAM HOME FROM BOARDING SCHOOL
NEFERTITI'S REGAL GAZE
THE NOBLE BROW OF HER PROFILE
THE TREE OF LIFE ON HER SEQUINED GOWN
FORGIVE ME ANNA FOR SO LITTLE TIME
I GIVE YOU MEMORY'S HUMBLE RHYME
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~ Francesca Kelly
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