Gillian Moyes
Norah
Second Light Poetry Competition 2008 COMMENDED
Slight as a stem at ninety-two
and still a climber – she’s up the step-ladder
like honeysuckle in her creamy sweater
cleaning her kitchen window
then comes into her neighbour’s garden
to admire its few square yards
of herbs punchy with perfumes,
potted geraniums, a blowzy azalea.
I like something different to look at, she smiles,
as if blown on a seed into Babylon
from this patch behind sheltered flats.
A riffling breeze lifts the curls
she admits to winding in place each night.
Like tight white buds of the mayflower
leaning over the fence, all unfurled
this morning with birdsong in its hair.
Competition judged by Gillian Clarke
Page(s) 18
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