the explorer
i’d always thought my mother was a hearth rug
an astrologer’s words blew me off course
even in your pram she poured voyage into you
there were the solo cruises of course
dad died and she took to the qe2
even dallied with a dance host
the cctv screen at wardington nursing home
captures her excursions to the remotest corners
she hovers with intent at the barrier gate
I can hardly contain my thrilldom
their philosophy is roam roam roam
this week she has discovered the second lift
Rose Rouse is a London-based writer, poet and editor. Her pamphlet Tantric Goddess came out on Eyewear in 2017, and she and her partner created a book of poems and paintings in 2019 called Wild Land. In 2020, she received a grant from Brent2020 to form the Willesden Junction Poets. In 2022, she was selected as a KCAW – Kensington and Chelsea Art Week – poet. roserouse.co.uk advantagesofage.com