Time Past

Some time ago I had a mate
who died near here --
a piece of wood
came flying out of the saw;

below the mill, the river
flows almost dead still --
everything's as dry as hell;

I remember we played
in a trench in your backyard
with WW1 helmets
& a real machine gun
& a radio set;

when you died,
we took over two dozen eggs
to your mother --
she was sitting by the fire crying
& she said: 'I wondered what I'd
have for dinner...'

well, she's gone too -
& they buried her today,
I thought you should know that.

© 2000 Trout &
Rangi Faith