Time was when we both just sat and talked

Just you and me, Dad (sometimes we walked)

And our exchanges back then were so very helpful

Back before all of the troubles - you got a bellyful



And you were full of ideas then and such plans for me

Which we went over together, sometimes sipping tea

Your greater vision always left me feeling quite speechless

For many of your ideas had teeth, but was no match, best



Other than the gears which turned in the background

Your adulation of Shakespeare's works were so sound

And always I knew sooner or later I would undertake

The very thing I knew you wanted most, but would not relate



Because the economics of writing always got in the way

So we hemmed and hawed about other ways to fill my day

But once left alone to sort things out and then to do my own thing

I knew it didn't matter about money, for the till would ring ...



- Tristram



(c) Christopher W. Thomas

8:05pm Sat. June 20th, 1998