Kindergarten

(or the social task of parenting)

by T.P. Wilkinson / October 17th, 2021

In imagined marriage
loyally wed
phantom children
morally fed
for dreams feinted
take to bed
on pillows skating
unheard screams
for death awaiting.
All the chimes
the nursery rhymes
adventures told
from ancient times
in all the years
lived including
thoughts immoral
self-deluding
Oh, adventures
had and missed
the sweat of pavement
to soles affixed
removéd only
by forgetfulness.

 

T.P. Wilkinson, Dr. rer. pol. writes, teaches History and English, directs theatre and coaches cricket between the cradles of Heine and Saramago. He is author of Unbecoming American: A War Memoir and also Church Clothes, Land, Mission and the End of Apartheid in South Africa. Read other articles by T.P..

This article was posted on Sunday, October 17th, 2021 at 8:02am and is filed under Poetry.