This poem is taken from PN Review 271, Volume 49 Number 5, May - June 2023.
Four Poems
Great Auntie Nicey
(‘No, not Nicey, it’s Eunice, pronounced Eunicey, as in the Greek’)
It’s not for long – she can’t get out – she’s asked for you.
Straighten her cushions, talk to her.
So I’m imprisoned too.
She winces as I try to shift her pain –
not there, that’s worse. I drop the cushion.
Clock hands creak. Nothing to say.
The boys are playing war outside – half naked, free.
Sit properly – not ladylike to loll about….
Boredom. Jaw aches. And hours till tea.
Well then – her breath a fog – d’you want to play?
She means the Chinese cabinet. I fumble
at its tiny doors. Now I can look away.
Open it – careful – you’re much too rough,
there’s something for you. Look inside.
...
(‘No, not Nicey, it’s Eunice, pronounced Eunicey, as in the Greek’)
It’s not for long – she can’t get out – she’s asked for you.
Straighten her cushions, talk to her.
So I’m imprisoned too.
She winces as I try to shift her pain –
not there, that’s worse. I drop the cushion.
Clock hands creak. Nothing to say.
The boys are playing war outside – half naked, free.
Sit properly – not ladylike to loll about….
Boredom. Jaw aches. And hours till tea.
Well then – her breath a fog – d’you want to play?
She means the Chinese cabinet. I fumble
at its tiny doors. Now I can look away.
Open it – careful – you’re much too rough,
there’s something for you. Look inside.
...
The page you have requested is restricted to subscribers only. Please enter your username and password and click on 'Continue'.
If you have forgotten your username and password, please enter the email address you used when you joined. Your login details will then be emailed to the address specified.
If you are not a subscriber and would like to enjoy the 288 issues containing over 11,600 poems, articles, reports, interviews and reviews, why not subscribe to the website today?
If you have forgotten your username and password, please enter the email address you used when you joined. Your login details will then be emailed to the address specified.
If you are not a subscriber and would like to enjoy the 288 issues containing over 11,600 poems, articles, reports, interviews and reviews, why not subscribe to the website today?
