Bon Voyage Mr Leach by Nick Strong

I see you there 
I still see you there 
Sitting in
That old armchair
Your back to the window
Silhouetted 
By autumn sunshine
If I could ask
Just one thing
It would be 
Where have you been?
I’m still here
I still see you there 
Propping up the bar
Holding court
Like some jester’s fool
Half and half 
In hand
If I could ask
Just one thing
It would be 
Why did you leave 
Before your round
I still see you there 
Lying in a sterile bed
An old man 
In a young  man’s body
Disappearing  fast 
If I could ask 
One more thing 
Beyond the things 
I said to you that day 
It would be 
Why not stay 
For just another hour 
I still see you there 
In that aging armchair
Talking of  Bacon 
Gogh  and Dali 
Proclaiming
An interest in pictures
You’d never seen
If I could say 
Just one more thing
It would be 
I’ve seen them 
Should’ve been there
I still see you there 
With smoke filled rings
Swirling in the air
Laughing at 
My youthful clumsiness
Lecturing me
On my stupidity
If I could speak to you again
I would say 
Why?
I can still there 
Sleeping past noon
Annoying 
A young boy 
That wanted play 
Who thought you were god
If I can say just one more thing
It would be 
Why sleep past noon
I still see you there 
Soaked by rain
As you scarpered 
Through Toon streets 
To find shelter 
In some broken doorway 
If I could ask one more thing
It would be where were you going
It was far from here 
I can still hear 
Your voice calling  
From afar 
Muffled now by time
Not so clear
If I could say one more thing 
It would be 
Why can’t you call any louder
I can still see
That box 
They put you in
I can still smell the white rose
I held at your graveside
That day 
We said goodbye 
I meant every word
Of friendship
Love and respect
Now I’m all alone 
I still see you there 
Sitting in that old armchair 
Whiskey in hand 
That smile on your face
Sparkle in your eye 
If I could ask you more thing
Wherever you are 
Can you just wait
For me

© Nick Strong 2023