The Winning Poems

"a wondeful observation of what seems real... yet there's somekind of important transformation taking place..." - Jo Shapcott

FOURTH PRIZEWINNER

Jenny Galton-Fenzi
IT'S HER NINETIETH BIRTHDAY

and in the summer garden all her family
and dearest friends are gathering. They bend
to kiss her, shout greetings in her ear.

On a table in the shade, a pile of gifts:
begonias in pots, lavender soaps,
lavender soaps, tinned humbugs. She shades

her eyes, tries to remember all their names;
is that Felix or Harry swinging on the tree?
The sapphire on her finger winks, as overhead

a small biplane swoops in from nowhere, begins
a dazzling repertoire of loops and spins. They think
it's someone from the Aero Club, but she knows

knows it's her long-dead lover, Stanislaus,
who's come to make her heart
turn over one more time.

Image (photograph)
They raise their glasses; 'To Granny!'
She smiles and nods. Above their heads,
he's blazoning her name in vapour trails
from east to west across the brilliant sky.
Copyright of this poem remains with the author.
Next  |  Previous  |  The Winning Poems  |  Notes on Contributors  |  Home