I took down the mirrors last winter
to keep you out of sight
turned down the light
to keep shadows on best behaviour
hid the sun in a low place
and waited for inky days to avoid you
but the clouded eye
high in the marbled mall
was always green winking vigilant.
There were glimpses in High Street windows
among the deceit of wonky mannequins
when you were caught in a speed trap flash
and the shadows in the rear view mirror
kept up their zealous stalking.
The chrome kettle and silver spoons
have colluded in the same refracted smirk
and your framed stare is reflected back
after the jittery flickering of late night news
like a black and ragged bird
still seeking something shiny.
Poet: Tina Cole
Illustrated by Judi Bailey
This poem was Commended in The Poems Please Me Prize 2015
Tina lives in rural Herefordshire. Her poems are mostly about people, relationships and how they manage in times of crisis. Tina is a member of Border Poets and has enjoyed reading her work and poems from their new collection, ‘The Nettle Trick’ at a number of local poetry festivals and events. Her first full collection was due to be published in 2015.
See other illustrations of this and all other winning & commended poems at Red on Bone
