Lawrence Hall
Dispatches
for the Colonial Office
Go Ask Your Father
“Go ask your father.”
“Go ask your mother.”
“She said to ask you.”
“Go ask her anyway.”
“Go ask your father again.”
“He said to ask you.”
“Well I told you to ask him.”
“It’s your mother’s decision.”
“He says it’s your decision.”
“It’s okay with me if it’s
okay with your mother.”
“It’s okay with me if it’s
okay with your father.”
That was always
soooooooooooooooo annoying.
I wish I could be that
annoyed again.
Lawrence Hall
Dispatches
for the Colonial Office
Pirates to Starboard next to the Dairy Cows!
My neighbors’ field is low;
it tends to flood
Their children sail their
kayak as pirates bold
And laugh and splash upon the
sloshy mud
Swallows and Amazons in
search of gold
Most comfortable with our
feet propped up
We old folks sit upon the
porch all dry
Each an admiral with his
coffee cup
And let the heavy monsoon pass
us by
We too were pirates in our dreaming
youth
We wish we still were – and
that’s the truth!
Lawrence Hall, HSG
Barefootin’ Among Watermelons on a Summer Afternoon
For J. W., His Dad, and His Uncle
Brandon
J. W. is blessed with
family and purpose and love
Guided study and chores
and structured faith
Happy barefootin’ days
among the watermelons
A fishing pole and
buzzing-bee summer afternoons
Lawrence Hall, HSG
Let’s Go for Coffee - Grab Your Flak Jacket
Some give their sons semi-automatics and hate
Instead of family and purpose and love
Instead of guided study and structured faith
Instead of fishing poles and summer afternoons
Lawrence Hall, HSG
The Mysterious
World of Azalea
If I were a child, this would be a happy place
A hidden leaf-mould world, all darkly green
Summery green beneath the shaded sun
Between the roots, beneath the leaves, alone
If I were a child, this would be a happy place
A brand-new comic book, some army men
A Roy Rogers cap pistol without any caps
A plastic Tarzan leaping from branch to branch
If I were a child…but alas, I’m not -
Lawrence Hall
https://hellopoetry.com/lawrence-hall/
poeticdrivel.blogspot.com
When We Played Chase with Dust Devils
Long, long ago dust devils
spun across
Our childhood playground
where the school used to be
And we played chase with
them across the sand
As they whipped up dry earth
and long-dead leaves
They were a little scary
in their speed
The way they funneled and
circled around us
Malignant faces that
appeared for moments
And disappeared again – surely
only dust?
I didn’t think they meant
us any harm
But looking back just now -
I’m not so sure
Lawrence Hall
https://hellopoetry.com/lawrence-hall/
poeticdrivel.blogspot.com
Learning to Comb
Your Hair
Do you remember
learning how to comb your hair?
Your mother had you look into the mirror
(What a handsome
young man!)
And watch as she made magic with a comb
First, she chased all your hair forward and down
Until your eyebrows laughed for the fun of it
And then she chose an imaginary line
And parted the strands for the rest of the day
Hooray!
Do you remember learning how to comb your hair?
(Now in your mother’s memory send up a prayer)
Lawrence Hall
https://hellopoetry.com/lawrence-hall/
poeticdrivel.blogspot.com
A Little Child Lacing Her Shoes
For Sarah, of course
She is as proud, as she
can be, and I -
I too am proud, watching
her twist her tongue
In thought – the rabbit
pops into its hole
To emerge on the other
side – hello!
She is as proud as she can
be, but I
Am a little bit sad as she
stands up now
Dancing in place to make
the heel-lights twink
Then giggling, “Catch me,
Daddy!” as she runs away
And I play-chase, knowing
that all too soon
There won’t be little
lights for me to follow
