A snakepit, a lion’s den,
a second-hand shark cage.
The Big Apple, the Little Rascals,
everything after the Victorian Age.
These things scare me on sight,
but not as much as
Veronica Cartwright.

The Trix Rabbit with a gun,
The Dodgers winning a World Series.
Parallel parking with Mark Hamill,
Sesame Street conspiracy theories.
These things make me shake at night,
but not as much as
Veronica Cartwright.

The White Album, the Black Plague,
toenail clippers, salad bars and Disneyland.
The Richter scale, the Mendoza line,
Any and every last teenage boy band.
These things give me such a fright,
but not as much as
Veronica Cartwright.

Television reruns of H.R. Pufnstuf,
An opened jar of Miracle Whip.
The names of Frank Zappa’s kids,
vacationing on a Carnival cruise ship.
These things horrify me alright,
but still not as much as
Veronica Cartwright.

Maybe it was mountains
Instead we drank our way to something
Of bravado
Feats of intoxication
And instafame

Telling stories we’d lived
We thought they couldn’t be lived again
And so we stepped into our late 20’s
Hearing mirroring stories form our
Middle aged colleagues

When I stepped into a poetry class
I thought I had an edge
That i’d lived
That the love I’d lost was real enough
To be worth something

This was before Bukowski,
McCourt, Hamill

I have nothing unique to say
But still I say it
Because it finds its way out
Eventually

Last night I dreamt you came to me,
Wrapped in Angel's wings,
Surrounded by a golden glow,
Whilst an angel sings.

You looked at me and smiled,
You held a golden thread,
You placed the thread into my hand,
And this is what you said...

'Don't you worry mummy,
just know that I'm OK,
I've lots of friends in heaven,
And loads of room to play.
I'm getting lots of cuddles,
The Angels wings are warm,
Loved ones are looking after me,
Keeping me from harm.
This golden thread I give you,
And when your feeling blue,
Just give it a tug, call my name,
And I'll be there with you.'

I took your golden thread,
But didn't want to part,
You saw the pain in my eyes
Then jumped into my heart.

' I'll always be here mummy,
Forever in your heart.
No matter what, heaven and earth,
Our souls will never part.
I'm your baby angel Mummy,
Holding your hand real tight,
And I will be in your arms again,
When the time is right'. ***

Honey Bonnick Gardiner - 9/7/11

Written by Kellie Hamill
19/9/11