Poem Of The Month: October 2014

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Sadly, Sabine Wichert passed away in September.

For October's Poem of the Month

I have chosen the three poems by Sabine Wichert (1945-2014).

They are taken from her collection 'Miranda'.

NOT A MIRAGE

Your paintings show: you are frightened

of high waves and open land. Despite themselves

your drawn triangles are not self-contained; the colours

so light, barely colours at all; you like

your waters smooth, yet their plants grip you firmly,

anchoring you, too, in slime. Some dare to lift

their roots, though, and swim or even fly to follow

the beckoning of their visions: you’ve even rooted

your dreams.

I saw a trickle of water

falling onto a large stone:

it dripped, dripped, dripped,

yet never hurt the stone.

There was no clear indentation

after centuries of steady trickle.

Instead a line ran down,

splitting the sight,

a slimy line, green

with age and frustration.

SOMETHING TO SURVIVE ON

This dark

country’s

clocks.

Your

Fingerprints

on my desk.

The rain

consoles

scars.

CONSCIOUSNESS

She had walked

proudly through the park

not caring

who looked,

Stared,

or whistled.

She had suppressed

the need to listen

for following footsteps,

had begun to hum

with excitement:

to be free,

to stare back,

not to care,

to be herself,

yet not afraid.

When the gatekeeper

at the exit said,

well dear,

with your looks

you should

make someone

a very good housewife,

her step

grew timid

again

and she lowered

her eyes

in anger.

Photograph courtesy of The Belfast Telegraph

Sabine Wichert (1945-2014)

Click on the 'Add to Cart' button to buy your copy of 'Miranda'.

Cover Image: Pen Portrait

The author has asserted her/his right under Section 77 of the

of this work.

British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data.

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.