Originally published in https://www.peachvelvetmag.com/spring-19
In the lounge, positioned under the upright piano
is a regimented row of his shined leather boots,
and he keeps his old accordion in a box, snug
between the spindly legs of the telephone table
in the bay window. Arranged on the pelmet is
a collection of novelty pencil sharpeners bought
in National Trust gift shops and their empty
boxes live in the pantry under the stairs
alongside jars and jars of homemade marmalade.
On the inside of that cupboard door, over the years
he has recorded the heights of his grandchildren
with blue biro etchings. But his most treasured
items must be the letters and sketches he posted
home when he was evacuated to Bangor during the war,
and he keeps them safe in a locked suitcase with
an ARP helmet and a Mickey Mouse gas mask.
