The Quilt

The Quilt

By Helen Barter

When we were young

We laid our pattern pieces together,

and matched the edges 

Just for fun. 

Agreed to leave the paper foundations in place 

until all our blocks were sewn.

We enjoyed the prick and stitch of

Comparing our design to others.

We have survived the intervening years.

Our feelings for each other were pinned deep.

Other relationships haven't changed us; 

We just weren't together.

Now my fingers are gnarled and my eyesight is poor. 

The fabric begins to crumple and fray 

where the edges have remain undefined.

I still treasure the thread that binds us. 

Bridge in the Hundred Acre Wood

Bridge in the Hundred Acre Wood

by Helen Barter

There was a chair in the corner of my bedroom

where Christopher Robin used to sit.

He would just be there, watching me sleep.

Sometimes I would wake up in the dark

and see him looking at me.

I knew I was awake.

I used to be afraid of the dark

until Christopher Robin said he was afraid

of the light.

Mother's Day

A day waiting for a key in the door.

Unable to concentrate.

Unable to think.

Only wait.

Mother? 

Is that you?

Poem

Formed by the sands of experience,

other relationships served only 

to lay down fertile strata

in readiness for your seed.

Declaration of Love

Declaration of Love by JM

By Helen Birmingham

I can't accept responsibility for you.

Yes to your arse,

your tits, 

your filthy, sexy, dirty mind....

But I can't take ALL of you.

No one can.

You must keep something for yourself.

Give me independence.

Then I can comfort you 

from your overwhelming emotions.

Kiss the soft tears from your eyes,

cradle your messed up head and

kiss your lips.

Gentle

delicate

reassurance.

The Ballad of Yosser Hughes

I could make the Emperor some new clothes.

I am honesty and hard work.

The 'art souls' wrap him in a cloak of conceptualism.

A garment of inadequacy with everything and nothing on show.

I could make the Emperor some new clothes.

I am genuine emotion.

The 'art souls' dress him in arrogance and pretension.

He is naked.

They can't even acknowledge he has a beautiful cock.

Snozzcumber

I built the barricades.

Taped around the edges

to muffle the sound of my screams.

But the stinking fetid juice of rotting memories  

seeped underneath the door and tainted 

everything.

The Prince, The Thief and The Torturer

Prince Charming was a spoilt bully.

I was his favourite toy. 

He threw me onto the floor

and broke me.

The thief offered to have and to hold.

Invited me to reposition my armature to lean against his.

Secretly he was sculpting

my collapse.  

My body broken.

My trust stolen.

I began the slow process of torturing myself.

Alone

Alone

The security blanket 

didn't turn up 

to my brother's wedding.

Just his name in golden hand

staring from the emptiness beside me.

My father, drunk

smoked a cigar,

Lurched outside to vomit.

I cried and watched

as the last of my security was expelled with force

into the gutter.

Requiem

Requiem

By Helen Barter

Without the closeness you can't be moved?

Without the distance you can't be amazed?

I let you touch me.

Fragile mind, abused body.

Remember how you distanced yourself from me?

So violently 

so unexpectedly 

that 

it 

tore 

my 

heart.

Were you amazed that I lost my mind?

Were you amazed that for years I lost belief in myself?

Now you are dead.

And I am moved to tears.