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Alas I Knew Him Well

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He walked with a swagger, was a delinquent lagger and recidivist wagger all his schoolboy days. Joyridin on the Pare’ bus he’d skylark and cuss just like one of us as was his way always. He was undeniably cool but did shirk at school and play the fool from bell to ringin bell. Widely well liked as a peer and but for the odd jeer had nothin to fear but many a tale to tell. He oft sat ready in class but mostly half ar-se and exams seldom pass much to his own bane. Almost always in a scrape lookin to mock or ape or some dare or jape and felt a swingin cane. He climbed out on a limb and broke into the gym then let his friends in loadin up the bar. Squattin and pressin away liftin in the weight bay ‘til fun and horseplay went a step too far. He did the flyin fox cling and leg and arm fling on the rope swing with collidin force. For dear life hands hangin, blokes fallin and bangin into each one clangin on the Confidence Course. He was a hurler of eggs and ‘til someone begs did charlie their legs but it was all in fun. A water bomb he’d let fly when he’d from up high ambush a passer-by abscondin on the run. He his loyal friends also under the gym below did hide and stow lest they all be found. Then one guy in the loop would dive thru a hoop and the rest swoop should it fall down. He at lunch hour stood all innocent and good but not as he should policin the tuck shop. As monitor it was his job to calm the unruly mob but never tell or dob suckin on his lollipop. He was a classroom pest out of uniform dressed on his own little quest and always in strife. But in his heart he knew what he needed to do and this he would rue the rest of his life. He was a master pranker, some say a wanker but he did hanker for somethin more. Girls thought him sweet and did fall at his feet goin crazy for Skeet but his spell had no cure. ~~~~ Pic above: The old Windsor Park Hotel is in the background. It is 1977 and we are just 16 years old. below: With friends below the trees of Rangitoto College.

Copyright © | Year Posted 2022




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Book: Shattered Sighs