2011/03/12 Air-Con Cooled Poem by Margaret Alice

When Gerhard came visiting, we had a ball, dissecting
family, discussing all, tracing our youth, he showed me
a photo of his six-year old self in our yard, ready with
satchel to start school - I begged a copy

He told me the rumour his granddad, dad’s brother, did
not enjoy his visit to dad at all, dad left him alone and
uncle had nothing to do, Gerhard pictured my dad
walking about, impatient with his sedentary brother

Two crabby old men snapping at each other…

Asked dad about the rumour of my unhappy uncle –
Oh, I could not entertain your uncle, his feet swollen,
he could not walk about, did not want to watch my
favourite videos, nor listen to my music, nor read my
magazines or special books, criticized the Cowboy
book I offered him, print too small, reading glasses
at home, nothing good enough

I installed him in an air-con cooled room and went
walk-about, now your uncle complains I was a bad
host, but he is such a difficult person, I made him
wear your mother’s big rubber shoes (I cannot get
this image out of my mind) but he wanted to wear
his own pinching shoes which made his feet swell
again; I went walk-about as I always do

Two brothers only one year apart, eighty-three and
eighty-four, dad a Sagittarrean Knightly Robin Hood;
uncle a Scorpion King Of His Castle, Kill All Knights -
never the twain shall meet – Gerhard and I laughing
about the Tale Of Two Brothers - Two Billy Goats Gruff
arguing why their mother could not visit uncle in hospital
when he was a boy - dad says

Our dad did not allow our mom to do so - while my uncle
woefully declares - But she went to the movies instead!
Oi vey, that sounds very bad indeed, Gerhard and I
agreed…