Saxby Pridmore: Going through private papers

Going through private papers

Paper was used to remember facts. A first driver’s

licence, dropped into a shoe box for keeping. Some

things you need to be able to put your hand on, and

anyway they might be interesting one day to you, or

a descendant. Some old exam papers, of no earthly

use to anybody now, kept for fear of offending the

markers, who would never know or care. A slip

to prove you’d registered for National Service and

another one to prove you hadn’t been “called up”.

School report cards that said you’d sat up straight.

Some newspaper clippings which prove, independent

evidence, that you were on the winning team. Cloth

badges, photographs and letters.

Letters from first loves and friends lost along the way.

Letters which promised other lives that didn’t happen.

Letters that stab me and I burn them, respectfully.

Saxby Pridmore