Thanks, Sheila. JJ was a big loss and his sister and family are still
devastated. I can’t help but think of his energy when I pick the shirt from
the wardrobe.
Bill
On Wed, 13 Nov 2019 at 1:37 pm, Sheila Murphy <[log in to unmask]>
wrote:
> The many layers here are real and palpable, Bill. Thank you for the piece.
> Very delicately rendered. Sheila
>
> On Tue, Nov 12, 2019 at 1:10 PM Bill Wootton <[log in to unmask]>
> wrote:
>
> > How could I have known
> >
> > that this shirt,
> >
> > dark and unremarkable,
> >
> > would outlive the Timorese boy
> >
> > who said Cool Shirt, Sir,
> >
> > ten years ago
> >
> > when I wore it for the first time
> >
> > into the High Achievers
> >
> > Year 8 class
> >
> > at Resa High?
> >
> >
> > It took Facebook
> >
> > to tell me that JJ
> >
> > had drowned,
> >
> > years after leaving school,
> >
> > having established himself
> >
> > as a lively rap performer.
> >
> >
> > His older sister Tina,
> >
> > electing to ‘do an oral’
> >
> > on the contentious issue
> >
> > of refugee boat arrivals,
> >
> > had deftly leaned the lectern to the floor,
> >
> > sat astride the stand
> >
> > and mock rowed throughout
> >
> > her presentation.
> >
> >
> > The shirt is faded and frayed,
> >
> > one slight tear in the pocket
> >
> > but still fit for gardening.
> >
> > Is it, I recall JJ asking,
> >
> > when it came time for him
> >
> > to do his oral,
> >
> > OK to sing it?
> >
> >
> > My word it was.
> >
> >
> > bw
> >
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> >
>
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