Molly's First Drink
Molly brings the gin
to her lips
and allows the glass
to linger there
oh that smell
that takes me back
she says
although none other
could hear
too busy
with the raptures
of someone else’s
cheerful celebration
but nonetheless
she sips her drink
[...] Read more
poem by Terry Collett
Added by Poetry Lover
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!
That Last Time
That was the last time
you saw her alive
going into a store
with some guy
you assumed
was her husband
and she looked over at you
as you sat opposite the store
and smiled her smile
like she used to
way back in 62
when it was just
she and you
sitting by the pond
[...] Read more
poem by Terry Collett
Added by Poetry Lover
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!
Never Said
That summer of 62
on the school playing field
and she sitting there
with her friends
and you trying to impress
and taking in her smile
and bright eyes and the way
she sat with her knees visible
beneath the green skirt
and the white ankle socks
and the scuffed black shoes
and wanting to say love you
sweet thing but only coming out
with words about the weather
or the way her friend had her hair
tied back with the green ribbon
[...] Read more
poem by Terry Collett
Added by Poetry Lover
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!
Unnecessary
Unnecessary,
Auntie said,
when you asked
about taking the mutt
for a walk;
he can take himself
for a walk,
in fact,
she continued
straining the cabbage,
the green water
pushing through
the stainless steel colander,
he runs,
[...] Read more
poem by Terry Collett
Added by Poetry Lover
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!
Memory.
Memory of your mother
rolling pastry
and you watching
her hands
and the rolling pin
and the way the pastry
was pushed down
and out
and then she took
the pastry
and put it over a dish
and spooned in
the cooked beef
and onions
and then placed another
[...] Read more
poem by Terry Collett
Added by Poetry Lover
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!
A Mother and her Dead Child
Looking back
it seemed
the child
was not to be
always there,
not through lack
of love or care,
but something
that came to her
in dreams of dread
at night asleep in bed.
She tries to retake
in dreams
the child back,
to pretend
[...] Read more
poem by Terry Collett
Added by Poetry Lover
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!
Is Dead
Is dead.
That’s the part
you heard,
those words
through the gap
between door
and frame.
Who’s dead?
or what?
the dog?
Uncle, Auntie,
Grandfather?
The old biddy next door
whose nose
spied through curtains?
Curiosity
like some virus
bit into you,
[...] Read more
poem by Terry Collett
Added by Poetry Lover
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!
More Letters
More letters found stuffed
Beneath his brown best shoes,
Which had yellowed with age.
Love letters with small crosses
For kisses at the bottom
Of the page. Words neatly penned,
Love spoken of, gifts thanked for,
Places seen, shared and remembered.
He was a dark horse, Mother said,
Never knew he had these, so many here,
Stuffed, forgotten or out of sight and mind.
Granddad had had some woman
On the go at some time and place
Years ago, before Gran, before
The whole circus of living had ended.
A photograph tucked between pages,
Some woman in old-fashioned hat
And dress and wide-open eyes.
Secrets hidden and kept, words
Upon words on pages, scribbled
[...] Read more
poem by Terry Collett
Added by Poetry Lover
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!
Coughing Woman
So what so the woman
Had a bad cough and they
Let her into the cinema to
Watch a film and there she
Was cough cough right through
The movie and it kind of echoed
And at times became the focus
Of attention and the odd person
Said Hey can’t you control that
Coughing? And she coughed in
Reply and the guy next to her
Moved and the dame behind
Tapped her on the shoulder and
Said Oughtn’t you to be in bed
With medication? And the movie
Rolled on and the people watched
Or moaned or did both and then
Towards the end of the film she
Stood up and slowly walking by
The people in the row and said
[...] Read more
poem by Terry Collett
Added by Poetry Lover
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!
Anyway.
Anyway if you see him said Millie
Let him know I called and by the
Way mister you look so much like
A guy I used to go out with years
Back right down to the black beady
Eyes and thin slit mouth and beery
Smelling breath anyway if he does
Come back here let him know I
Was asking after him and by the
Way if that dame is still with him
That skinny bitch with the dull eyes
Say hi to them both from me and
Anyway I’ve got to go it looks like
Rain and I hate it when my hair gets
Wet and as my mother always said
There’s plenty of pebbles in the sea
And hey you know you do remind
Me of that guy I used to date right
Down to the way your hair is styled
And he used to drive me crazy and
[...] Read more
poem by Terry Collett
Added by Poetry Lover
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!