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The Boy

By audrie

28 June 2007

I wrote this poem after reading in a Sunday newspaper that Dorothy Tutin, the actress, was feeling ill and her little boy climbed onto her lap and said, 'I will make you better yesterday, Mummy.'

She was so entranced with this that she tried to write a poem about it, but found she couldn't. I sat down and wrote this piece below, and sent it to the editor. He sent it on to her and she wrote me a lovely note saying how much she appreciated it.

To my shock, and delight, she then included it on a Radio 4 broadcast of her favourite poems. It was a great priviledge to me to be included with the esteemed authors she chose.

   I will make you better yesterday, said the boy,
   Come, climb with me onto the pendulum of time
   and together we shall swing it back.
   For I can catch the seasons, halt the wind,
   and hold the promise of forgotten hopes within my eyes.

   I will make you happy yesterday, said the boy,
   Come, fly with me to the end of the stars
   and together we shall find the Land of Dreams.
   For I can stop the clock and halt old Time,
   and hold the bright thoughts of angels within my head.

   I will make you better yesterday, said the boy,
   Come, touch me and you touch yourself. You and I
   as we once were, are, and will ever be.
   For I can sow the seed of Life and halt old Death,
   and hold the spiral of generations within my body.

   I will make you happy yesterday, said the boy,
   Knowing that the beginning and the End are the same
   as they were and always will be, now and evermore.
   I will make you as happy as you were tomorrow.
   And he did!

Reviews

Written by Phil (6393 comments posted) 28th June 2007

Liked this very much - so much to think about in a short piece. So difficult to talk about time - yet you did it so well and included other themes too.

When I read the last stanza, I felt line 4 was somehow out of place. I think it might be that linbe three and five echo church liturgy. (Whih I can't remember exactly)

I think I'll revisit this one.

Phil

The Boy
Written by audrie (444 comments posted) 28th June 2007

Thanks, Phil.

I put the 'tomorrow' in as a tie in with the 'yesterday'
each in the wrong place, as young children will do.

I also didn't like the last line much, 'and he did!' but couldn't think of another line and was in a bit of a rush to get it off, at the time, knowing how quickly editorial stuff changes.

The Boy
Written by CliffBowes (176 comments posted) 28th June 2007

Hi Audrie
I'm not surprised Dorothy Tutin liked this poem, it is truly wonderful. It conjures up a small child getting his words wrong, but charmingly put.
After a few readings I feel that the last line does work - I can hear it being said,accompanied with a smile, as this poem is much better when read out loud.
Cliff

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