The place I come from…..
after Robert Seatter
A father filled with darkness
And memories
Of Welsh mountains.
I come from a mother
With hair
Like the princess
In a fairy tale.
I come from
A country town
Where we played
Out in the fields
And were not frightened
Of strangers.
I come from
A place of ditches and dykes
Where we’d catch little fish,
And make our way
Into the drains
Below town,
Chopping at restricting concrete
With next door’s
Coal hatchet.
I come from a place
Where the dustman
Had gypsy horses,
And drove them
Harnessed
To tilted carts.
I come from a city grandmother
Who was terrified of cows,
And a great-aunt who
Called a cup of tea
‘The Cup of Life’.
I come from wych elms
Lining the football field
And games of cowboys
And Indians.
I come from roast dinners
On a Sunday,
The collect for the day
And bible stories.
I come from the aftermath of war,
Its detritus and hope.
Sophie Yeomans has only recently started poetry writing seriously, to develop and find her voice. She is retired so it’s the ideal time to do this. Her inspiration often comes from the natural world. She has worked for social services and the health service, has been married and has three sons and three grandchildren.