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Joan Poulson’s poetry for adults and for children is published on 3 continents and in S. Africa, India and Pakistan. She enjoys land-based projects and working with artists in other disciplines, fantasises about living by the sea, writing texts for picture books.
Introducing Anna he lists her books and awards,
calls her a gentle soul. She coughs to disguise
the growling in her throat. This man’s her lover
should recognise her on the postcard in her kitchen:
Vaclav Vaca’s Grand Piano.
When she clears the board only that card goes back.
He couldn’t miss the reviews, the cuttings
on genetic engineering or the card,
always follows as she rummages
for dark chocolate mousse with almonds in the fridge,
leaning on the wall between the Indonesian mask
and Napoleon, granny’s stuffed parrot.
She wants him to recognise the fiery-winged figure
at the piano, even the music-sheet scorched
as that wild angel plays and plays
above Napoleon’s cage. She wants him to notice nubs
of flaming wings on her shoulders (longs to gasp,
glimpsing her own image in a mirror
hair a volcano-core, vital as Medusa’s). She stalks off,
each step the dub dub of a monumental heart.
She is determined to stop coughing.
Published in Obsessed with Pipework
Publications:
onetree journal: following the seasons, illustrated by Elizabeth Stuart-Smith. 2008, Flarestack, £3.00;
onetree singing, 2001, Blackthorn, ISBN 0-9541003-0-1, £12.95;
Sling a Jammy Doughnut2001, ed. Hodder, ISBN 0-7502-3260-9, £4.99;
children’s novel Dear Ms, 2001, A & C Black, ISBN 0-7136-6071-6, £8.99.
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