My dad was 883 –
Surrey –
‘A’ Division –
ne’er mad on
promotion –
a copper not
through vocation –
a roof
with his job was his spur –
not more –
pay was low &
houses rare –
his art was a
draughtsman’s line
[filed –
but not forgotten] –
He sat
for his lunch after a move
to SOCO –
soup & a ‘paper
to consume & his van full
of dust & brushes & items
bagged for proof –
He lost
his breath to fags –
avaunt