Jacqui Bennett Writers Bureau

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THE WINNER OF THE JBWB SPRING POETRY COMPETITION

 

The Cruel Room 

 

by

 

Mick Stringer

 

Email: mick_stringer@hotmail.com

 

 

There are loving walls of old worn brick,

In every shade of red and brown,

Framing, rough-edged, the crumbling joints

Where moss and toadflax tease away

The dust of drying mortar, green for grey.

These walls enfold

Hidden gardens, secret squares,

The smell of mint and lavender

Where children hide and play.

 

And there is the cruel wall,

Between the little bedroom of my boyhood

And the large, cold chamber where my father died.

 

There are happy rooms, thick-piled,

With bulging chairs and sofas, cushion-layered,

Where, stretched along the fender, infant thighs

Marble in the winter heat and eyes

Repeatedly re-read the gentle lies

Of nursery stories. Tales

Where life goes on forever,

Heroes thrive and no-one nice

Is damaged, damned or dies.

 

And there is the cruel room,

With its high ceiling and dripping panes,

Where he clawed for breath and blood ran down his chin.

 

There are exciting doors, doors that conceal

Those happy transformations, which, at night,

Bring piles of parcels, "Love from Mum and Dad",

Produce a Christmas tree, the scent of pine;

The airing cupboard door, and there, behind,

The little line, where he would hang

His socks - all blue and black -

And wink at us, and warm his back,

And pass the time.

 

And there is the cruel door,

Where I stood and watched the sheet pulled up,

And a brown stain gripped the white that dabbed his cheeks. 

 

©2000 Mick Stringer

 

Mick would love to hear what you think of his poem - email him now

 

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