Hi all,
I am delighted to have received a new poem from Nigel Paul. Nigel is a “writer and artist with a strong interest in the relationships between media, culture, society and politics.” You may remember Nigel from a poem published here last April, (She’s) Dancing With The Idiots (Tonight).
Even though I have moved the focus away from submissions, if you have something you are hankering to share please do still send it my way. I will be pleased to consider it for posting.
All the best
Sam
The Park Bench
I held her hand tightly,
As she started to tell me,
Is this what park benches are for?
She said it’s the sinking heart feeling,
That hurts her the most,
And the voice of her mother’s ghost,
Saying ‘You should’ve done better,
You should’ve done more,’
And it’s the memory of that voice,
That breaks our silence,
Creates the ripples,
Causes the creases of laughter,
‘You were the only daughter,’
I sit and tell her,
Is this what park benches are for?
And we sat and we drifted,
Through memories and smiles,
For many a-passer-by,
And we didn’t even cry,
When it started to rain,
And she didn’t even cry,
When he spoke of the pain,
I just held her hand tightly,
And I listened with care,
Is this what park benches are for?
Because I know I’ll be beck here,
To hold this memory so dear,
As I hold on to her tightly,
Because today is just today.
NDP
6/2/13