what's your poem?

Message Bookmarked
Bookmark Removed
Not all messages are displayed: show all messages (119 of them)

My favourite poem of all time is "Long Distance II" by Tony Harrison.

Though my mother was already two years dead
Dad kept her slippers warming by the gas,
put hot water bottles her side of the bed
and still went to renew her transport pass.

You couldn't just drop in. You had to phone.
He'd put you off an hour to give him time
to clear away her things and look alone
as though his still raw love were such a crime.

He couldn't risk my blight of disbelief
though sure that very soon he'd hear her key
scrape in the rusted lock and end his grief.
He knew she'd just popped out to get the tea.

I believe life ends with death, and that is all.
You haven't both gone shopping; just the same,
in my new black leather phone book there's your name
and the disconnected number I still call.

lord of the rongs (anagram), Thursday, 4 January 2024 11:48 (four months ago) link


You must be logged in to post. Please either login here, or if you are not registered, you may register here.