When Dad had a stroke

Tidying up before you go OBE

(Over Bloody Eighty)

Tripping through your roots

Back home on family soil

Touching base with sisters and bro

Measure your survival in memories

England Scotland Ireland Wales

Your Four Nations tour

With your loved one by your side

O lucky man,

To have a second chance and get it right

Lucky man to be loved to bits

This time around

Then the bloody clots,

Fifth columnists in your veins

Ironic vindication of your brain

(Diagnosis must be in your cells by now

After forty years of daily waiting rooms)

How frustrating it must be

To know your body’s not right

But no specifics found

You’re a brave kind gentle man

I love you Dad

Come for a barbie at my place soon

You slack old bugger.