POETRY
      Kate Waterhouse — 'Keep breathing'

Peter Casserly
World War 1 veteran
106 not out

hair in thin tight
curls of sweat
where his hat sits

and his strawberry veined ears
on each lobe
four or five errant hairs

and the reporter asks:
what’s his secret
for long life?

and there’s a pause then
the room quiet
time
arrested

Keep on breathing
I suppose
says Casserly.