Mother

Until I rampaged into womanhoodand found myself adrift on the sea of life, you were a gorse bush flaming through my childhood,golden, scented with coconut, alive. You were my harbour when I shipwrecked motherhood,a beacon when relationships capsized. You encouraged me to be cautious in my adulthood,and always try to see through another’s eyes. Your […]

As a Child Listening to Ella Fitzgerald

Satin and velvet tonesbroke          through the crackleof a seventy-eight on my parents’ turntable,crooning and scatting                    like a flock of birds.Ella’s voice,          a warm hug, skippingthe melody or drawing out emotion                    like the dripping strand from a spoonof honey.She bent and spun songs I’d heard          delivered straight on the radio, dry,gave them souls and made them […]