Here and There (after Harry Owen)

i)
you leave me
old pen marks, the scratch
of sandpaper across varnish;
ink smudge
abandoned erasings
and the pink edges of pencil shavings
blown through the room.

ii)
yet you've trudged
the tedious track -
taxi rank or bicycle shed
you ironed the grubby shirt and plasticised
books battered beyond usefulness
I wish your careless childhood
long lived.