The anthology of this year's competition poems has just been published. Judges were former National Poet of Wales Gillian Clarke and Prof Tony Brown (Bangor University).
I was astounded by Prof Brown's comments on my poem in the introduction to the anthology. Among his points: "I was indeed reminded of the way a 'metaphysical' poet like Donne explores the emotional implications of an image."
And: "There is a fine sense of the shifts of love here, in the slow movement, the flow and drift of the water and a moment which, in responding directly to 'Seventieth Birthday', would not have been out of place in a poem by RS himself... And that pun on 'reflection' -- one RS uses more than once -- again shows real, thoughful engagement with his imaginitive world. But this is not in any way to suggest mere imitation: this poet has her own voice."
Wow, gee, thanks!
If the timing had worked out I would have included this poem in my second collection 'Breakfast in Bed', in which I gathered many poems about love in all its forms (Indigo Dreams Publishing 2019). But that book went to press just before the competition.
Below is the Highly Commended poem. I used the competition prompt as the epigraph.
Presence
in her absence
I lean far out from the bone’s
bough
knowing the hand I extend
can save nothing of you but
your love.
(from
‘Seventieth Birthday’, RS Thomas)
You
are as two trees on the shore,
boughs
engaged over water,
roots
entangled through comfortable earth
and beyond,
into the lake that holds
the
depths of both of you.
Her
currents are yours and yours are hers,
flowing
in mutual quiet beneath silvered ripples.
She
drifts into you and out, and back.
While
you contemplate final separation,
if
you offer your hand, she will take it.
As trees
become still and the lake surface calms
to
allow true reflection
you will
feel her presence in your silence,
and you
will no longer suspend your breath.
Inspirations, the 2019 RS Thomas Festival Competition anthology is published by Einion Books, Machynlleth.
