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Contests : Tom Howard/John H. Reid Poetry Contest : Past Winners : 2007 : High Distinction
MIST WRAITHS
At night clouds escape the bonds of wind
whose magnetic charm and white gloved hand
kept them dancing in rosy shoes
twirled in silver grey and mauve
tulle skirts and lacy stoles flying cirrus
waltzing in a jet stream of music
At night they slip off secretly
climb down drainpipes
shaped like trees
party in the park, go wild in the woods
I catch them as I drive through
barely dawn
flying into headlights, startled
tiny puffs of cloud, winter
mist wraiths reeling
out after their autumn curfew
This poem won a High Distinction award in the 2007 Tom Howard/John H. Reid Poetry Contest sponsored by Tom Howard Books. Author Frances Truscott received a $100 award. Winning Writers assists this contest. Copyright is reserved to the author.
SUNSHINE ON A WOODEN FLOOR
Women with scarves used their hands
to spin thoughts about wordless pains
things beneath the register of speech
matters of rhythm and tone
couched
in the language of books and reflection
jokes about "shrinking womens crumpet"
tea and the beauty of the room
armoured a little against the hurts attended
felt in the therapist
not by her
bodily
meaninglessness concreted and sharped
there was a crisp eyrie view
trees sketched on watered silk
rolled joyfully towards the fields
like an unfurling rug
a few good paintings told stories
to neutral walls
music stands, a harpsichord, a violin
lounged like poets in residence
and the sun drew a square on the warm wooden floor
framed it
interpreted the light
We still sit in a solar
but no longer fortressed
sewing and spinning and trying to lift our eyes a little
This poem won a Highly Commended award in the 2007 Tom Howard/John H. Reid Poetry Contest sponsored by Tom Howard Books. Author Frances Truscott received a $70 award. Winning Writers assists this contest. Copyright is reserved to the author.
About Frances Truscott
I live outside Tunbridge Wells in Kent. My day job is as a Kleinian Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist which I do part time. I spent a lot of my earlier life living in the USA and got my first degree there. I wrote poetry as a child, then in school, then in college. The need to write has followed me about like a very patient dog.
I have enthusiasms for things: fencing, singing, belly dancing, Scottish country dancing. What is most important though is trying to nourish friendships and keep in touch with people who inspire, comfort and make me laugh. Time often pickpockets good intentions.
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