The Imaginary Child

What if we had given her
a big brother’s hand to hold on to?

How would she view things now?

There would have been someone else
to moan about us to.

But when it all got broken
whose side might he have taken?

How would they have got on?

They could have stood on the sand
and gazed at the sea
together.

Decided whether to paddle.

He might have pushed her in.
She might have been a braver child.

But would we ever have played
Daddy, my daddy?

And what would have happened
to her unclaimed Imaginary Friend?


The Obvious Child