Brian Kelly

Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire

 

 

Brian Kelly has been writing poetry for a number of years, recently looking to publish. Originally from Scotland, now living in Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire, Brian has a PhD from the University of Manchester and works in public health research.

 

Poem written  4^th May 2020

 

Lockdown daydream

 

I staggered out with wobbly legs,

bleary eyes blurred by light,

and there were others; standing around,

shaking hands, hugging.

 

I couldn’t believe it.

 

I left my house without a care for locks,

bolted up the hill and burst

through the doors of the Fox.

The place was jumping.

 

Would you believe it?

 

I squeezed my waif-like body to the bar

using what was left of  muscle memory;

‘bartender please some vegan brew,

you know I’ve always loved you’.

 

You better believe it

(I’m talking to the beer now).

Well, imagine that

 

*move to present tense*

                all my acquaintances

are lined up in a row; raising their glasses,

                                singing ‘here’s to you fellow’.

 

There’s Dawn, looking great. Clayton it’s magic

to see you mate. Malachi, here for me.

O and Rowan, smiling, grown since the beginning;

you’re here representing the next generation.

 

Well you have to believe in something,

 

like the ghosts lining the walls:

at first fixed like faded black and white photo’s,

but then… progressively they move in,

slowly reaching through.

 

I do believe

 

I’m crying now

 

‘let’s have some order,

let’s listen to what they have to say’.

But they don’t want to say anything in particular,

they just want to join in.

 

Well by now I would believe anything.

 

So in comes my Mum in her youth,

alive, proud, beautiful;

takes the floor and sings.

Dawn adds harmonies from the wings.

 

I believe that’s the point

*move to past tense*

 

when it started to fall through my fingers,

to fade back to the attic: where I found myself

alone, scratching out these words

with dried out hands.