All Fall Down (For My Pa) Poem by Margaret Kollmer

Ever-changing circles cloud the contours of my mind
Ring-a-ring-a-rosy
All fall down.

Down the calcified days of youth-ache
I see you moving through
a lifetime of stocks and shares,
quizzical smiles and grumpy evenings
of Queen to Pawn Five.

You wanted Einsteins
but all you got was a pocketful of posies
and a batman with a tuneful air.
But we gave you our seasons
and grandchildren by the score
to laugh at your tales
and remember your name.

Hush-a hush-a........
Now move away, world
Your kaleidoscope will seduce me again:
Don't cloud my grief with your tooth-ache
My Pa, he died today.