On His Father Going to the Wars: after a newspaper photograph.(Poetry)(Poem)

 
   ON HIS FATHER GOING TO THE WARS 
   after a newspaper photograph 
 
   At five he is young enough to wear 
   his father's airforce cap at a rakish angle 
   like a new recruit but old enough 
   to understand the sad flag fall in his mother's eyes. 
   In fact he balances her tears 
   along with final photographs, 
   trumpets, drums and cheering crowds; 
   a new Hawaiian shirt, McDonalds and balloons. 
   Aware too that his tiny sister seems further dwarfed 
   By a kind of fear directed at both the squadrons 
   sparkling in sun for something reflected in her gaze 
   he can't put right but doesn't dwell for long 
   on what cannot be held amongst so much commotion. 
   While his father sweeps her to his height 
   with excited cries and giggles 
   and then his ...