Poem: The Key

Books & Poetry

Today’s nostalgic Poet’s Corner contributions are from Adelaide teacher Rory Harris.

Wednesday May 04, 2016 Comments

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the key

my father lost the key
& the spare
from the garage
in the first year it was put up
so he left his car under a tree
years later a carport appeared
& the tree was cut back
I have just emptied his garage
& laid out a history of neglect
on the verge
a street lived on & bituminised
between race meetings
& Saturday night poker
sometime on Monday
the council will collect
what was picked over
a lifetime
of neighbourhood bargains

the father

it was a good
day for your funeral
overcast & damp

I couldn’t just
step outside
for a cigarette

someone you never
met gave me an A plus
for your eulogy
that’s teacher talk
for better than average

you were better than average
most of the time
as in those moments
of infinite grace
when you ruffled
a cow-lick head of childhood

Rory Harris teaches at CBC Wakefield Street in Adelaide, South Australia.

Readers’ original and unpublished poems of up to 40 lines can be emailed, with postal address, to poetscorner@solsticemedia.com.au. A poetry book will be awarded to each contributor.

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<p><p>Today’s nostalgic Poet’s Corner contributions are from Adelaide teacher Rory Harris.</p>
</p>
																		<address><a href="https://inreview.com.au/contributors/compiled-by-john-miles/" class="author">Compiled by John Miles</a></address>
											
							<h2><a href="#the-key" aria-hidden="true" class="aal_anchor" id="the-key"><svg aria-hidden="true" class="aal_svg" height="16" version="1.1" viewBox="0 0 16 16" width="16"><path fill-rule="evenodd" d="M4 9h1v1H4c-1.5 0-3-1.69-3-3.5S2.55 3 4 3h4c1.45 0 3 1.69 3 3.5 0 1.41-.91 2.72-2 3.25V8.59c.58-.45 1-1.27 1-2.09C10 5.22 8.98 4 8 4H4c-.98 0-2 1.22-2 2.5S3 9 4 9zm9-3h-1v1h1c1 0 2 1.22 2 2.5S13.98 12 13 12H9c-.98 0-2-1.22-2-2.5 0-.83.42-1.64 1-2.09V6.25c-1.09.53-2 1.84-2 3.25C6 11.31 7.55 13 9 13h4c1.45 0 3-1.69 3-3.5S14.5 6 13 6z"></path></svg></a><strong>the key</strong></h2>
<p>my father lost the key<br />
& the spare<br />
from the garage<br />
in the first year it was put up<br />
so he left his car under a tree<br />
years later a carport appeared<br />
& the tree was cut back<br />
I have just emptied his garage<br />
& laid out a history of neglect<br />
on the verge<br />
a street lived on & bituminised<br />
between race meetings<br />
& Saturday night poker<br />
sometime on Monday<br />
the council will collect<br />
what was picked over<br />
a lifetime<br />
of neighbourhood bargains</p>
<h2><a href="#the-father" aria-hidden="true" class="aal_anchor" id="the-father"><svg aria-hidden="true" class="aal_svg" height="16" version="1.1" viewBox="0 0 16 16" width="16"><path fill-rule="evenodd" d="M4 9h1v1H4c-1.5 0-3-1.69-3-3.5S2.55 3 4 3h4c1.45 0 3 1.69 3 3.5 0 1.41-.91 2.72-2 3.25V8.59c.58-.45 1-1.27 1-2.09C10 5.22 8.98 4 8 4H4c-.98 0-2 1.22-2 2.5S3 9 4 9zm9-3h-1v1h1c1 0 2 1.22 2 2.5S13.98 12 13 12H9c-.98 0-2-1.22-2-2.5 0-.83.42-1.64 1-2.09V6.25c-1.09.53-2 1.84-2 3.25C6 11.31 7.55 13 9 13h4c1.45 0 3-1.69 3-3.5S14.5 6 13 6z"></path></svg></a><strong>the father</strong></h2>
<p>it was a good<br />
day for your funeral<br />
overcast & damp</p>
<p>I couldn’t just<br />
step outside<br />
for a cigarette</p>
<p>someone you never<br />
met gave me an A plus<br />
for your eulogy<br />
that’s teacher talk<br />
for better than average</p>
<p>you were better than average<br />
most of the time<br />
as in those moments<br />
of infinite grace<br />
when you ruffled<br />
a cow-lick head of childhood</p>
<p><em>Rory Harris teaches at CBC Wakefield Street in Adelaide, South Australia.</em></p>
<h5><a href="#readers-original-and-unpublished-poems-of-up-to-40-lines-can-be-emailed-with-postal-address-to-poetscornersolsticemedia-com-au-a-poetry-book-will-be-awarded-to-each-contributor" aria-hidden="true" class="aal_anchor" id="readers-original-and-unpublished-poems-of-up-to-40-lines-can-be-emailed-with-postal-address-to-poetscornersolsticemedia-com-au-a-poetry-book-will-be-awarded-to-each-contributor"><svg aria-hidden="true" class="aal_svg" height="16" version="1.1" viewBox="0 0 16 16" width="16"><path fill-rule="evenodd" d="M4 9h1v1H4c-1.5 0-3-1.69-3-3.5S2.55 3 4 3h4c1.45 0 3 1.69 3 3.5 0 1.41-.91 2.72-2 3.25V8.59c.58-.45 1-1.27 1-2.09C10 5.22 8.98 4 8 4H4c-.98 0-2 1.22-2 2.5S3 9 4 9zm9-3h-1v1h1c1 0 2 1.22 2 2.5S13.98 12 13 12H9c-.98 0-2-1.22-2-2.5 0-.83.42-1.64 1-2.09V6.25c-1.09.53-2 1.84-2 3.25C6 11.31 7.55 13 9 13h4c1.45 0 3-1.69 3-3.5S14.5 6 13 6z"></path></svg></a>Readers’ original and unpublished poems of up to 40 lines can be emailed, with postal address, to poetscorner@solsticemedia.com.au. A poetry book will be awarded to each contributor.</h5>
<h5></h5>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
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