John McKernan2

THE DITCH

Held a green toy boat

Beached against the grass wharf

The ditch half full of water

Covered a carpet of dog

Glowing in black mud

The ditch at dawn

Lifted its armada

Of wooden alphabet blocks

To the sprawl of daylight

The ditch was a mirror

Holding my face

My smiling brown hair

My sailor suit

My tiny hand waving

Until my father scooped

Me up in his question mark arms

& carried me across

The ditch

To the rows of candles glowing

On my grandfather's oak birthday casket