WISH YOU WERE HERE

October1945
Our family had been caught up
in all the excitement
joy and relief
that the WAR was over

There was dancing
In the street
The baby-sitter jutter-bugged

on the kitchen floor

My mother was singing
With the radio on

full blast
No more blackout curtains
on the windows at night
No more listening intently
for a blast from the siren
somewhere on the Coast
three miles away
which would indicate
an enemy
invasion

Let us move Up North
to the Cariboo District

The British Columbia

Hinterlands
Two big steamer trunks

with all our possessions.
Except

for the doll I had
named Rosamund.
Rosamund had a
composition head
Some kind of cardboard
that fell apart
when I left her
outdoors in the rain.

Wish you were here,
Rosamund
On our journey toward
a new adventure.
I miss you!