ASHLEY DUCK | CREATIVES

you are gone and past and yet passing tones
on warm breath say
never forgotten
to me, you are the tide
sweeping, heaping the strains of memory left on the shore
without warning, again, again
shall we travel back, together
Lake Eucumbene, yes it was
where seen were the fish upon the bank
poking eyes with sharp sticks, the stench of scaly skin rotting
in the blistering summer sun
deep voices rousting beyond children’s giggles
let’s stay, in memory
those that praise you say you were gold
they make promises to you
watching this for you
doing this for you
For you, for you
this is not a promise, but an ode
to a person that once was, just that
time has changed you
a victim of the death effect
again, let’s go back to the cigarette
shared on hospital steps
the laughter, the smile
what about that 50cc or the unsettling nestles
of water beds and rose-scented sheets
your time here, it was like sweet, sticky, sickly cane
attracting critters and crawlies and they would settle
within the thick cover of junior grass
festering, poisoning
what happened in that time of innocence?
where did the infection begin?
once more, it’s the last time
we’re going back to stained fingers, bottled brew
the Dog on the Tuckerbox
The Three Blind Mice
those ducks in the backyard, a faithful
Hills Hoist and home-constructed swings
how I ache to be in those summer pools, the red tubs and the old mustard boat
walking along the cracked concrete steps
the dry country roads on the way back home
I see your saddles and whips and boots and silks, swaddles
big ears, brown hair
oh, wash away these memories, tide
wash them away until you come again
for you, for you
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