Halleluya got all my ducks in a row
As I struggle through life on my tippy-toes
Without a fuss
In the future I trust
Just a young dreamer with a runny nose
we paraded behind him
he in a fawn casual jacket
military badge right breast pocket
over a maroon v neck cardigan
even in summer
dark blue trousers
sharp crease
hands behind back
hair neatly slicked down -
stiffly upright
me next aged 7
gray flannel shorts
gray slipover
clunky brown lace up shoes
newly scrubbed
eyes round as saucers
mum last
head down
brown slacks
white blouse
sandy blond
vacantly beautiful
I would keep turning to look back
at mums place
mum had a place
last was here place
not wanting to fall back
trying to keep up with long striding dad
occasionally trying to get in front
the sharp knuckled rap
on my head
from an unyielding god
people looked at us *****
as we marched down the road
all the way to the park
to sit on a bench
dad on one side
me in the middle
mum at the end
sitting silent
pigeons drew near
seeking breadcrumbs
we had no bread crumbs
when it was time
(dad always decided)
we stood up
then filed back home
to listen to the radio
listening
dad nearest to the set
nothing to say
me on the floor fidgeting
mum in the kitchen
fading away
M-ake all things in order,
A-lmighty gives the command;
L-et not dissension rule
O-r get the
U-pper hand.
G-et your ducks in a row,
R-earrange for the better;
E-vade the zone of schism,
G-o on as true peacemaker.
O-n the twenty-eighth of July,
R-ise and let not grime grow;
I-t's time to organize life,
O-r get your ducks in a row.
Today seems like it's gonna be a good one
Ducks in a row, shining down is the warm sun
What could go wrong
Gonna sing a sweet song
Bout happiness and stuff, do you think I'm stunned?
Ducks in a row.
Tails lower than currents of pebbles
on glass shards of reflecting power
Here and now fading
with ripples and lily pad vibrations.
Geese squawking
wretched wretches of who and what.
Sounds only nature could imagine and love.
Somewhere below scales out of tune
Play sunlight serenades
to all the earless in the world
With no sounds
like thumping in a drum.
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