Preciouly I unwrapped the roll
Taking only what was necessary
The angels needed wings
In the sky stars twinkled
So I covered my cardboard
In tiny sheets of silver
And the fairy’s wand
For the top branch
Of Christmas
Sparkled .

Love Mary **

The bungalow in Isle of Wight brick
Surrounded by concrete flag stones
Was my perimeter playground
Lifting tanned legs under smocked dress.

Against the side walls bees suckled
On those red berries amongst leaf
I watched their pollenated wings buzz
And thought of honey yet to be made.

Round and round like a circus animal
I danced the summer sunshine out
Waiting as my shadow fell on ground
Announcing cool sea air and home time.


Love Mary **

Bonfire Night .

Under night sky its navy soot
Circular spirals of movement
We children watched
As dad opened the box
Mum gave out chestnuts
And humbugs
In our long back garden.

A match took off
Sending shivering sparkles
Upwards in coloured lights
Then the falling to earth
To dissolve
Melting into the cosmos
As sugar in a glass.

Cocoa in a mug
Surrounded by love
This was a best day
Of my life.


Love Mary ***

You expect a caress when together
But too shy her nearness frightened
So arms held straight to girl’s side
Both stiff and awkward in company
The mother-in-law looked at camera
And the girl faced the grassy lawn
She remembered this action years on
And regretted how youth falls short
Of love in embarrassment and desire.

Love Mary x

He left her for the keys
Standing in the hall
Shamefaced secret.

She watched him
Walk down the road
To catch the bus.

We all know wrong doing
And do it anyway
Never seeing.

They had been on the bed
A bunch of keys
To his office.

She had moved them
To under the bed
Out of view.

He needed them for work
At Hyde Park Corner
To open building.

Had she seen them
‘No’, she said.
Lied.

Her brother got blamed
After keys were found,
She kept silent.

This is one act of cowardice
One thoughtlessness
Never to be repeated.

Love Mary x

I remember all those places
Where I felt you loved me
Sometimes quietly with
Insignificance
As an ordinary day began
At the beginning of spring.

I remember my passion for you
And how you loved it
Over and over again
Joining our sweet bodies
United in our bed
And the after sleep of cats.

I remember your reading to me
In soft tones the story I loved
Sitting closeness in the heart
Feeling your hair on my face
Watching the pages turn
Always an unfolding touch.

I remember you loving me
The way I wanted to be loved
In all the places that I needed
With every part of your being
This was a great love
Never taken for granted.

Love Mary ***

No longer frilly
Abandoned buttons and bows
Took to wearing breeches
And baseball shoes.

Now she’s having a baby
What will that do
Change our young Lily
Into two.

Love Grandma ***

We wait for you under an umbrella of love
Collected are your needs, neatly in a box
Surrounding you we look forward to the day
When we shall see your face, stroke your head
Arlo, stay safe little one in the waters of time
Knowing Grandma has you always in mind .

Love Grandma to Arlo ***

I caught you round the waist
The buckle of your coat in my hand
Blonde curls tasting of the wind
And a love so deep within.

Love Mum ***

Flap, flap two black wings staggered
On two yellow clawed feet after stormy
Weather and the tufts of cats fur left
Like a white collar on emerald green.

Inside the cardboard box with soft lining
And scraps of bread, cheese and water
On a little polythene transparent oblong
There was chirping to be heard from within.

On varnish floor he skids and skates about
Putting newspaper down his legs got strong
After a few days of feeding he began to fly
Just a little spinning around the front room.

Bright eyed with yellow beak eating worms
He was nearly ready to be allowed outside
To find his strength and freedom with others
Tearily he was carried to park and released.

A few days later , looking in our garden tree
We saw him sitting on a leafy branch chirping
And singing a thank you song of gratitude for
A life he may never have lived without our help.

Love Mary ***

In the window frame there is room for you and me
The garden always overgrown still a child’s delight
Pushing wheels along uncemented paths of grass
Those blowing clocks filling the sky with your breath
And I watch you, for hours, golden rounded limbs
Moving the air, swirling dresses, petticoats, a dolly
In spotted blue and a new mother growing into
Herself.
I watch silky chestnut hair, float, pulled by the wind
Over red knitted cardigan and an upturned nose in a
Smile as you see me there at the window of love.

Love Mummy xxxx

Second daughter you were so kind
When your baby sister was around
How can I capture thee
No words are lovely enough to be.

Love Mummy x

Turning towards the left
My ponytail followed me
With a flick catching the sun
I liked flicking my hair
Feeling it brush my shoulders
And presence of a tied bow
Circular plastic clips
Holding the whispy bits
Often on a Sunday.

Love Mary ***