It was an extremely close run thing but ‘NIMBY and the Supermoon 2018′ by Helen Kay edged over the finish line to be our Pick of the Month for September 2019. This topical and emotive poem naturally gelled with voters’ concerns over the environment, which thoughts are at the forefront of most peoples’ minds at the moment (or should be if they are not). And as one voter put it: ‘She has such a refreshingly novel way of describing everyday things and making us experience them anew.’
Helen’s poems crop up in magazines. She was recently placed second in the Leeds Peace Prize, Wakefield Sanctuary and Welshpool competitions and commended in the Shelter and Festival of Firsts Competitions.
She has asked that her £10 ‘prize’ be donated to Shelter.
NIMBY and the Supermoon 2018
The window by her pillow has the best job in the house:
it sneaks in day to kiss her awake to a tail-thumping heart.
Curtains slice a piece of sky, twig-flecked, let her taste
the creamy dawn shame it’s a #supermoontease.
She breaks open sleep-stuck, blackout linings. Her heart howls.
New houses, with scaffold ribs fatten on the fields.
Her hatred self-harms as the ‘stunning’ Wildflower estate
chews up trees and newts smirks at her terrace.
She is Sleeping Beauty. No sweet lips, just golden JCBs drilling
her mad. She goads the moon to flee prays for a spindle prick.
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Other voters’ comments included:
Helen’s poem uses challenging language and form to bring attack to her argument. Her theme is relevant and relatable and the poem moved me.
Originality of language – ‘chews up trees and newts smirks at her terrace.’
It’s a cracking poem.
Imageful, rooted in reality
Her imagery is visually stunning.
Just a thought provoking piece of poetry.
This compressed so many thoughts and feelings into a short poem. ‘Nimby’ invites us to make a simple judgement but the poem exposes something much more complex.
Beautiful balance; quietly menacing language. Loved it!
This poem really resonated with me with its deft handling of an emotive subject – one that’s close to my heart.
I think this poem puts over its message in an economical but magical way.
Witty and relevant.
I just like the description it gives you, as you read it and takes on the journey with the pillow.