Helen Hill

Shotton,Deeside, Flintshire, Wales

 

Helen Hill lives in Deeside with her partner, Liz and two cats.  She has been writing on and off since the age of 7 and tends to be a reflective, nostalgic but sometimes humorous poet.  She has been published in several anthologies and magazines as well as on the web, on the radio and in various exhibitions in Chester, Wales and Sheffield, her home town.  Helen has been a member of Chester Poets for many years.

Poem written 17th May 2020

Last Tram

For Marie

 

You send me a video,

one of the last trams.

It grinds over the tracks,

that old familiar route

from Lane Top to Town,

 our family scattered

along the line.

 

I memorise the stops,

Firth Park, Page Hall,

Fir Vale, Firs Hill,

Toll Bar, that’s us,

 the Wicker, Walsh’s.

 

I catch her up,

schoolgirl in blue,

as she climbs the

winding stair, dashes

to the front, fresh air,

a view of the hills.

 

I’m there still

 climbing,

 climbing

up those stairs.

 

The video stops

abruptly, last gasp,

last tram whine.

I’m shaken out of time

nearer, nearer now

to the end of the line.