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CAUGHT IN THE NET 201 - POETRY BY
SUE HANSARD
Series Editor - Jim Bennett for The Poetry Kit -
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|
Then like a flicked switch, your blank eyes colour and I can almost see your shrinking brain processing the reds and yellows and the softness against your fingers.
from Tulips by Sue Hansard |
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CONTENTS
1 - BIOGRAPHY
2 – POETRY
The Blue
Beret
Dream Child
Duet
Fellwalk
First Time
MotherLovce
Tulips
Witness
Woman
You |
3 - PUBLISHING HISTORY
4 - AFTERWORD
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1 – BIOGRAPHY: Sue Hansard
Sue worked in hospice care as a Lymphoedema Nurse Specialist for 25yrs and as an
independent specialist nurse for 20yrs. She retired in March this year and is
looking forward to more visits to her beloved Lakeland, family time and to
finally being able to focus on her writing.
Sue started writing poetry in the 1990’s when she studied creative writing with
the National Extension College and then attended a Creative Writing group in
Tamworth led by an inspirational teacher and mentor. Jenny W remains Sue’s most
honest ( and skilled) critic.
Sue’s poetry has been published in journals: (Poetry Now, Never Bury Poetry,
Pennine Ink and in The Dalesman) and in numerous anthologies, (Forward Press,
Arrival Press, Pyramid Press, Triumph House). Her poem `Tulips’ was shortlisted
in the annual Alzheimers’ Society (2017) competition and
`Artisan’ was runner up in the 2023 Kit Poetry competition.
Her academic writing has been published on- line and as patient information
leaflets.
2 - POETRY
THE BLUE
BERET
What kind of war is this,
that we well-trained
in
battle skills,
stand on Sarajevo streets
paralysed, not by fear,
but protocol,
embodied in the Blue Beret?
To
see them flee,
then fall to sniper’s fire
and lie bloodied
in
their helpless agony.
DREAM-CHILD
I dreamt of you last night,
your face, your hair,
felt your breath against my cheek:
our heart's own synchrony.
You drank sweet milk
from my nipple as you slept
and I stroked your peach skin
and marvelled at this gift.
But suddenly you faded
into a world apart
and I was left, still craving
the beat of your tiny heart.
DUET
Now, as you stand
side- by- side,
back-lit by the new morn sun,
teasing the reeds’ sweet harmony,
I yearn to gather your notes,
thread these moments
and wear them
like strung pearls,
perfect and shining
for all to see.
FELL
WALK
We clamber high, through curtain pines,
step lightly over mountain ghylls.
And slip and slide on tree-root vines,
that anchor forests to the hills.
We follow crystal-laden tracks,
side-stepping cairns that lead the way,
examine frosted lichen-cracks,
and seek a place to rest and and stay.
We drink our fill of drifting peaks,
consume a meal of virgin air,
then look toward the feathered streaks,
of Winter's presence looming there.
We turn to face a steep descent,
refreshed by nature’s dewy scent.
FIRST TIME.
He is not so sure- footed now
picking his way
down the sea- smoothed slate,
still wet and cold
beneath the hoof.
A brass-plate sun,
warms his rump
and the saddle,
sweats his back
as he noses the breeze.
Salt spray flares his nostrils
and he champs
the bit, foaming,
and feels the sand
yield to his hesitant stride.
Mounted, he is taken,
sugar-cubed
and whip-kissed,
towards the white
fizzing tide.
Further boy! Further still!
the leather- lick urges,
but the backwash steals
his foothold
tugs his fetlocks.
STEADY! STEADY!
but he , wide-eyed
and snorting
rears roller-high
stamping the froth at his heels.
And again he faces the swell,
mastered,though not
pliant or willing until
heel-nudged,he turns
scenting home.
MOTHER LOVE
Beneath thorned branches,
cradled silent
by their shade,
a mother weak from searching,
crouches with her babe.
He suckles only comfort
from her arid breast,
as she shuns flies
impatiently waiting
her death.
Stark silhouette
beyond the shimmered heat,
clawing red dust
for some crumb
to eat.
Silent shadows
forsaken in their quest
motionless mother
dead child
at her breast.
TULIPS
You reach, warily.
You extend long bony fingers
and delicately
caress the flowers I have brought.
Your own mother’s hands
I think, not yours.
Then
like a flicked switch,
your blank eyes
colour
and I can almost see
your shrinking brain
processing the reds and yellows
and the softness against your fingers.
I see you
as your features soften
and a smile
transforms and animates you.
For a few garnered moments
we are
connected,
mother and daughter
and tulips…….
`Beautiful’ you whisper
and I have to agree
……..it is !
WITNESS
She says
she survived,
not through bravery
or
luck.
She lives
because she refused
to
be
another corpse
cast naked
in
the pit
and buried deep
beneath the lies.
And now,
free-living
she inhales
the stench
of
man's inhumanity,
and breathes life
into memories
stock-piled
like the shoes
those silenced Jews
had worn.
Woman
I never knew her,
never had the chance
to get inside
her head,
behind her grateful smile,
inside the skin
that grasped my hand
and said
more than any words
or tears shed.
I never knew
the woman in the photograph
poised, vibrant,
charming the camera
with life’s zest.
And I never really knew
the woman sleeping away
her last days,
sinking silently into the white,
shrinking before us
stealing her soul away.
You...
…should be six this Autumn
kicking leaves
and pocketing acorns.
You
should be brimming with excitement
counting candles
playing with friends.
You
should be pulling my skirt hem
demanding attention
gathered and loved.
You
are all these things
in my head
but
child of my imperfect womb
you are dead
un-named
un-held
un-known
my own
lost
love.
BLUE BERET.
First Published 1994. Anthology West Midlands. Poetry Now.
DREAMCHILD.
First published. 1997. `For the love of Poetry’ Forward Press
FIRST TIME
first published. 1998. Poetry Today. 2002. Top 100 Poets. Forward Press
MOTHER LOVE.
First published. 1997. Arrival Press
TULIPS.
Competition shortlist. Alzheimer’s Society 2020.
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4 - Afterword
Email Poetry Kit -
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to tell us what you think.
We are looking for other poets to feature in
this series, and are open to submissions. Please send one poem and a short
bio to - info@poetrykit.org
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are Transparent Words ands Poetry Kit Magazine, which are webzines on the Poetry Kit site and this can be found at -
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