My Grandpa and Yours

Mine                                                     yours                                 

could whistle                                         sound like a horn,

a blackbird,                                           with his mouth

as good as,                                            better than

the real bird.                                          a real huntsman.

Loved                                                   loves

red-shanks in the estuary,                       racehorses,

drew finches and yellow hammers,         fed them,

built nest boxes,                                     groomed them,

so he could study them closer:                till they shone like conkers.

Stood five feet eight:                              six foot:

average height:                                      tall for a jockey,

average weight:                                     thin as a rein. Always

wore white shirts and blue ties,               blue jeans and jodhpur boots. Had

a moustache,                                         a nose like a pommel. Smelt of

Old Spice,                                            horse manure. Drove

very slowly,                                           too close to the car in front:

listened to me play my guitar:                 taught me how to show jump. Said

he thought it was the radio!                    I needed more practice.            

Would have enjoyed,                              is amazed,

you like tropical fish,                              you’re allergic to horses. Visits you

saw me,                                                most years,

every Wednesday,                                 Christmas and Easter.                                       

Mine                                                     and yours,

and you,                                                smile from the photographs next to my bed.