Vita Sessuale
Sexuality oozes from
unrestrained pinks –
contradicted with the
delicious bass line
of masculinity.
A square jaw line backdrops
pinched ruby nipples,
on a chalky white base, whilst
over a foxtrot of heartbeats
and a plethora of sheets,
cabernet soaked lips
reach for a partner.
The painter’s palette blends,
as the tempo quickens –
with the desirable colour
being you.
Discount Teabags
A tramp sits.
There sits the tramp
of Sauchiehall Street.
The face familiar to thousands,
but known as nothing;
his name superfluous.
As he pulls at his prized
woollen hat,
I see that the malty coppers
in his box, amount
to a cup of tea.
But not one from Starbucks.
• Deborah Bates says “I'm 20, am Scottish but moved to study Creative Writing at the University of Winchester. Ambition to earn my money through writing poetry about the way I see life.”
Your second poem takes me back over thirty years. I was sixteen when I first encountered my first tramp in Glasgow – I was brought up on the west coast and the only beggars we encountered were the gypsies that appeared every now and then. I was very moved by what I saw and I ended up writing a series of poems about down-and-outs. Over the years I became quite used to these men. There was one with a wild ginger beard who hung around Central Station who reminded me of myself. Love the use of “malty coppers”.