Spirit

 I wrote this one a while ago now as an exercise at Read To Write when we were looking at the poetry of Thomas Hardy. It's based on a real incident that happened a few days after my dad died in 2005.

Spirit

1

I knew at once that he was there
"Hello Dad", I said, even though
 in the mirror I could see behind
nothing at all but light and air

2

I felt a soothing in my soul

Tortured by such knotting pain

in lonely hours, the darkest days

when there was no-one could console

3

A shaft of light broke through the grey

As his presence drifted off

"It'll be OK Dad", I said at last

 Though I wished so much for it to stay

Tim Fellows 2019

No Name

I wrote this before the New Zealand Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern, announced that she would never speak the name of the man responsible for the Christchurch terrorist attack. As you can see, I fully agree.

No Name

I don't want to see your face
I don't need to know your name
no martyrdom for your vile acts
we must not amplify your fame

You should just quietly rot in jail
as the days and weeks pass by
and we can mourn and honour those
whose souls have flown to the Southern sky

We will need to record your crimes
and carry out the rule of law
but we should do this while calling
you Prisoner 33694

Shut down your social media
Delete your spewing words of hate
I don't need to know your name
Let anonymity be your fate

Tim Fellows 2019

Peur du vent

My first attempt at an original French poem. The vocabulary is simple as I am not fluent, but I hope there's more to it than just wind. Thanks to Flossie Malavialle for the inspiration and Fred Kihm for the grammatical corrections.

Peur du vent

N'aie pas peur du vent du sud.
Il souffle des mots chauds
pour rendre les phrases douces.

N'aie pas peur du vent du nord
qui porte les mots froids
pour écrire de la poésie triste.

Le vent d'ouest est parfois fort.
Il mugit les histoires de l'enfance
que l'on connait bien.

Mais le vent d'est est sournois.
Il se glisse dans ton lit
et, sans bruit, fait froid dans ton dos. 

English translation:

Fear of the Wind

Do not fear the southern wind.
It blows warm words
that bring sweet, soft sentences.

Do not fear the north wind
that carries cold words
for the writing of sad poetry.

 

The west wind is sometimes fierce -it howls the childhood stories
that we know so well.

But the wind from the east is sly.
It slides into your bed
and, silently, makes your skin crawl.

 

Tim Fellows 2019

 

 

 

 

Mrs Frankenstein

Written as an exercise based on the idea behind "The World's Wife" by Carol Ann Duffy. I haven't published a villanelle in a while but this just cried out for it. 

Mrs Frankenstein was actually not Mrs Frankenstein for long - Elizabeth Lavenza was killed by the monster on her wedding night as Victor was out searching for it.

Mrs Frankenstein

Another late night at the lab he said
His hair is wild, he cannot fall asleep
in thrall to his obsession with the dead

What's his secret? A girl he takes to bed?
I can't bear it - he makes me feel so cheap
Another late night at the lab he said

One day he said "Beware the path you tread
or one day you might be the crop I reap"
in thrall to his obsession with the dead

He brings home hands, an arm, a leg, a head!
He hides them but I couldn't help but peep
Another late night at the lab he said

And now he's vanished; left the girl he wed
This lonely night I lie in bed and weep 
in thrall to his obsession with the dead

I feel an ancient, chilling, crawling dread
As Victor up the stairs begins to creep
Another late night at the lab he said
in thrall to his obsession with the dead

Tim Fellows 2019

Missile

Missile

I am shining, poised and ready
Pointing to the heavens
In ranks, proud with my brothers
Identical yet different
I have my ID number
I await my own map reference
My program's ticking over
My program's ticking over
My program's ticking over
All systems go, release me
Through cloud and air yet thinner
I burn just like a meteor
A one-way guided system
Forged in peace yet fired in anger
I am smart but I am stupid
Flat out, earth flashing past me
Descending on my target
I care not for the future
My mission is accomplished

Tim Fellows 2019

Thirteen ways of looking at an apple

Inspired by "Thirteen ways of looking at a blackbird" by Walace Stevens

Thirteen ways of looking at an apple

Genesis

The winter apple
waits in the metal tube
in the dark. It leaves
no trace.

Generous

In the bowl the apple, orange
and pear
are still life for the artist.

Gentile

Sharpness and sweetness
can co-exist.
The apple says so.

Genteel

Under a roof of pastry
the apples steam
and give scents of home.

Gentlemen

Beware the seeds of poison
growing in the apple core,
where the blackbird sings.

Genomes

The apple, bruised and rotten,
has not fallen far from the tree.
Forgotten windfall.

Gentle

In the barrel the apple hides
among many others. It feels safe
in the dark.

Genocide

The child laughs at the apple
in the pig's mouth
but the pig isn't laughing.

Generations

The apple's connection
to the branch is fragile.
When it parts
it briefly flies.

Genuflect

The orchards are green
and lustrous -  I shelter
from the soft rain and, kneeling,
take an unripe apple.

Generic

The blacksmith's arm
swings. He is sweating
and each blow trembles
the apples in his tree.

Genius

Silver, shining apple.
A bite taken, but
I want you, I need you.

Genders

In the beginning
the man and the woman were one.
The man, the woman and the apple
were one.

Tim Fellows 2019

Today

For my lovely wife Fiona.

Today

Today was the day the sun shone brighter
reflected light on clear glass waltzing
Today was the day the grass grew greener
morning dewdrops gently smiling

Today was the day the planets sang,
straying from their path, aligning.
Today was the day the trees all flowered
though outside it is December

Today was the day the walls all crumbled
the ground beneath us quietly trembling
Today was the day the sky was bluer
filled with swooping murmurations

Today was the day when life restarted
born like mewling lambs in springtime
Today was the day
that I met you.

Tim Fellows 14 Feb 2019