jane-connell-smith - Hello Poetry

Shades of red In shades of red The poppies bloom. Acre upon acre Hundred upon hundred, Thousand upon thousand, Million upon million, Their defiant petals Rouse in our souls Remembrance. We cannot imagine The mud, the blood, The lice, the pain, The loyalty, the pride, The courage, the fear, Every shade of human feeling, Together in hell, Brotherhood. For King and Country. Falling in a moment, Or suffering for ever, John, William, Thomas, Oliver, Michael, David, James, Edward, Max - Fathers, sons, husbands A generation cut down Never to return. In shades of red The poppies bloom. Remembered still.

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Nov 4, 2018

Nov 4, 2018 at 2:09 PM UTC

jane-connell-smith

Shades of red

Shades of red In shades of red The poppies bloom. Acre upon acre Hundred upon hundred, Thousand upon thousand, Million upon million, Their defiant petals Rouse in our souls Remembrance. We cannot imagine The mud, the blood, The lice, the pain, The loyalty, the pride, The courage, the fear, Every shade of human feeling, Together in hell, Brotherhood. For King and Country. Falling in a moment, Or suffering for ever, John, William, Thomas, Oliver, Michael, David, James, Edward, Max - Fathers, sons, husbands A generation cut down Never to return. In shades of red The poppies bloom. Remembered still.

30

I sit on a low bench Children at my feet. Dark vermillion, maroon, sienna Bear down from huge canvasses Somber and oppressive. I rise to escape the dread To run to the light. Then a small hand Touches my heart. “Miss, I love these. Windows onto the world, I can imagine anything beyond.” Different views through a child’s eyes. We move on, he reluctantly But I still relieved To be rid of Rothco.

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Oct 17, 2018

Oct 17, 2018 at 2:10 PM UTC

jane-connell-smith

School visit-Tate Modern

I sit on a low bench Children at my feet. Dark vermillion, maroon, sienna Bear down from huge canvasses Somber and oppressive. I rise to escape the dread To run to the light. Then a small hand Touches my heart. “Miss, I love these. Windows onto the world, I can imagine anything beyond.” Different views through a child’s eyes. We move on, he reluctantly But I still relieved To be rid of Rothco.

16

Why when I look in the mirror Do I see a picture of my mother? I look away. Looking back, mum’s still there. Pity my daughter When one day She looks in the mirror...

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Oct 17, 2018

Oct 17, 2018 at 11:18 AM UTC

jane-connell-smith

Reflection

Why when I look in the mirror Do I see a picture of my mother? I look away. Looking back, mum’s still there. Pity my daughter When one day She looks in the mirror...

7

In black and white and shades of grey, They stand there, the dicky bird watching few. The groom in the ill fitting demob suit, shoes polished with spit. The bride, voluptuous in white brocade clutching the fading blooms. Her father, proud, reluctant to smile, relinquishing loving care of his little girl. Best man, a real rocker, with dark flirting eyes, slicking back black hair. Two young girls, pretty book ends to the nuptial scene, Short skirts and coiffured hair, clutching flower strewn prayer books in gloved palms. I am there, the only one left standing, remembering little of that day. But how I hated that PINK dress.

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Oct 16, 2018

Oct 16, 2018 at 2:30 PM UTC

jane-connell-smith

The Wedding Photo

In black and white and shades of grey, They stand there, the dicky bird watching few. The groom in the ill fitting demob suit, shoes polished with spit. The bride, voluptuous in white brocade clutching the fading blooms. Her father, proud, reluctant to smile, relinquishing loving care of his little girl. Best man, a real rocker, with dark flirting eyes, slicking back black hair. Two young girls, pretty book ends to the nuptial scene, Short skirts and coiffured hair, clutching flower strewn prayer books in gloved palms. I am there, the only one left standing, remembering little of that day. But how I hated that PINK dress.

10

Eye Shadow Central line, Standing, clinging on, shaking. There, sitting oblivious to all, A face in the crowded carriage. Liverpool Street Black eyeliner is painted neatly, Bank, A pale grey shade softens the right lid, St Paul’s, The left eye shaded, Chancery Lane, A darkened shade deftly applied, Holborn, A flick of mascara. Perfect. The doors open And the world floods out. The perfect mask remains.

0

Oct 16, 2018

Oct 16, 2018 at 2:24 PM UTC

jane-connell-smith

Eye shadow

Eye Shadow Central line, Standing, clinging on, shaking. There, sitting oblivious to all, A face in the crowded carriage. Liverpool Street Black eyeliner is painted neatly, Bank, A pale grey shade softens the right lid, St Paul’s, The left eye shaded, Chancery Lane, A darkened shade deftly applied, Holborn, A flick of mascara. Perfect. The doors open And the world floods out. The perfect mask remains.

19