Legacy
for Una
What a woman!
A flash of brilliance in my childhood -
flaming red hair, luminous skin,
glamorous outfits and confident
resonant voice employed at
extraordinary volume for the 1960s.
A striking Red Hot Poker
blazing above the everyday green
I picture you now
full-bodied laughing
eyes flashing, arms waving
holding court at our dining table
expressing outrageous views
fists banging - “you know I’m right” -
me at 5 or 6 hiding under the table enthralled
thinking Wow! A woman can be this strong?
Every shy girl needs a red hot power flower
- could be poker, poppy or pepper -
modelling the myriad possibilities of
live-life-to-the-full womanhood
Like a darting waxeye every visit
I sneaked beakfuls of your sweet nectar
savouring and storing it
to nurture some
red hot pepper
inside me.