Round 7: Art

Crocodile, pencil on paper, 21.5 cm by 30 cm June 2012

Round 6: Poetry

Bearskin

I like noughts and crosses      hangman

played a lot of that with the kids

makes me a bit nostalgic      You don’t mind?

Only I don’t see them anymore

haven’t done for years      I still think of them

as kids      still      they’re grown up now

probably got kids of their own

I get a card from my eldest at xmas

it cracks me up      seeing her

handwriting      I blame the wife      don’t remember

hitting her      I joined that fathers’ group

clambered about on rooftops      a bit undignified

for a soldier      I’ve calmed down now      Needed to

I used to travel      a lot      Too much

Got up to some things I shouldn’t of

specially for a soldier      Word got around

In ’98 or maybe ’97      I passed out on parade    

dropped my gun      Everyone was kind     

For a while      I really tried      You believe me?

And then      there was the drink      Still is    

I’m not boring you?      Only I miss my mates     

in the guard      miss my kids      miss Janey

Did I tell you I had to go away for a bit?

I used to love that bearskin

Katrina Naomi