The African Queen ~ for Mum
In recalling your love for technicolor
love, I believe you be a Rose
a scented heart
a thorn in hand
just enough sharp
just enough sweet
that wretched machine
threatened to ruin the VHS
(the older version of your love)
‘just blow gently on the ribbon,
it’ll work again, you’ll see’
and just like that
the next scene
your life was like Charlie
stubborn to the world
hard, back then
like whiskey
but you managed
your petals bending
resilient
no capsized boat
Charlie
down the river
Rose
you stole my heart