Anthony Di'anno - Remembrance

He was walking along Sandsend beach,

Bow legged,

Leant forward,

Struggling,

Determined,

One hand on his cap,

The other on a scarlet poppy pinned to his coat,

Fluttering,

A flag?

A wound?

His face,

Weathered,
Sand blasted,

A crumpled map of everywhere he'd ever been,

Screwed up,
Creased,
A well thumbed book?

Fragile and fathomless,

He reminded me of a discarded chip wrapper.

An Autumn leaf.

Disapearing into the distance,

Towards Whitby and Winter,

I wondered if he was going home to a hot meal,

If he could afford to put his heating on,

I felt a sudden surge of anger,

Reached into a pocket,

Fished out my tin,

Rolled a cigarette,

Lit it,

When I looked up,

He was gone,

Until now.

Anthony Di'anno

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/remembrance-115/