Backhanded

By Tony Britten, Out Of School

Laughter is what you conceal
when a 9 year old brushes
the folded cuff of a linen shirt
– newly purchased, freshly ironed-
its dark weft inky black and indigo,
then observes “That’s a lovely shirt,”
Mr Tony Sir, (her cherub face creases, repelled)
“But why are your hands
so old?”