Dry cracked

Vaselined lips

Over which my tongue

 Would stick

Ignoring grandmothers advice

To keep them moist

And don’t lick

 

Red legs raw from

An unforgiving wind

Blown ice cold

Through thick grey shorts

Hiding chapped thighs

Whilst Ink stained cotton

Revealed a blob of

Dark blue on a fresh clean

White shirt

A Blue and yellow striped tie

Sailing half mast slightly adrift

Otherwise free from dirt

Scuffed black shoes

Polished every Sunday evening

As regular as clockwork

Rarely noticed

And never seen

 For this

A school photograph

 

I was the boy for all seasons

 That prayed for spring to come

Just a hint

To blow away the shadow

A promise of the sun

Yet there I am

Caught on camera

An enigmatic smile

For all to still see

Frozen in another life

Hard to think

That was once me