Felixstowe Café Poets: In Remembrance of Love

Today’s selection of poems ramble off the beaten path of romantic love into other fertile places where love is hidden in the undergrowth. Susan Lancastle’s poem notices simple, everyday acts to pay tribute to the unfailing presence of a mother’s love. In Alfie Davis’ concentrated poem, the movement of the birds becomes the hope and dip of love presented in a tight form reminiscent of a love-knot. Kaaren Whitney’s poem expresses regret at missing the final opportunity to share time with a special friend. All three share that sense of not knowing what you’ve got till it’s gone; perhaps they are urging us all to say those special words while we still can. – Alexandra Davis

Mother

I remember Sundays strolling through the park under the shady trees
Wearing my new blue dress and coat
You chose them with such loving care
You smiled that smile that seemed to make everyone happy
I remember collecting blackberries on warm Autumn days,
Then home to make bramble jelly for afternoon tea
You laid the table with such love and care,
It was special with a crisp white linen table cloth
Your love was everywhere
By Susan Lancastle

So turbulent the gusts and gales of love
like murmurating birds; up, down, up again
over the rooftops they float
like a fleeting glimmer of hope,
until they dip below the skyline
and love is gone.
By Alfie Davis

Dear Ann

We didn’t get to meet last October
while your smile graced the hospital day room.
Fiddling about, this and that, robbed me of time
for the journey on dark winding back roads.
Instead it was convention I obeyed,
went to the party at its beginning
where others were late or did not arrive,
where my presence was given no value.
I missed seeing you special long time friend
missed our final visit before you slipped beyond.
By Kaaren Whitney

 

If you enjoy reading, writing and discussing poetry with like minded people, Felixstowe Café Poets meet at His Lordships Library at the Orwell Hotel on the 3rd Thursday of each month and entry fee is £2.50 per person per session. All poetry lovers are welcome! Look out for our event at this year’s festival.