<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
A True Version<\/strong><\/p>\n honest to god i stalk her she’s my new poem in her fitted coat and high heels on the number 10 bus\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0put bars on the lines<\/em><\/p>\n last night in the morning she’ll wake to cadence and pauses\u00a0 \u00a0 rhythms of wingbeat flocking the page<\/em><\/p>\n that’s good she’ll soon forget her passionless marriage when i leave her here for others to find<\/em><\/p>\n then i say so you let’s hope they bring food\u00a0 \u00a0 let’s trust they bring fresh hope \u00a0 that she isn’t alone in this fortress i’ve built her<\/em><\/p>\n that’s how low i hear calling in my sleep \u00a0 \u00a0 she wants to go home\u00a0 \u00a0 she wants her own grievance \u00a0 \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n i can’t she wants the truth of her own shadow\u00a0<\/em> <\/p>\n Linda Rose Parkes<\/strong> lives in the Channel Islands and has published four collections, the latest, This Close<\/em>, was launched last winter. She continues to run poetry workshops and is also a painter.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Confessional Poetry<\/strong><\/p>\n So how long have you truly felt this way? <\/p>\n <\/p>\n
\ni can’t bear
\nto look at myself
\nin the mirror<\/p>\n
\ni told him
\nMegan’s seeing
\na married guy<\/p>\n
\nhe says
\nif it
\nmakes
\nher happy<\/p>\n
\ndon’t mind
\nif i start fucking
\nwhoever?<\/p>\n
\nwe’ve sunk
\nrock
\nbottom<\/p>\n
\nstand
\nto see
\nmyself
\nthese days<\/p>\n
\n <\/p>\n
\nWhen we\u00a0converse about your infancy
\nI have the sense there’s more you need to say.
\nSadly\u00a0I think you’re withholding on me.
\nIt’s always the same. Novels say too much,
\nthey go on and on, I can’t shut them up.
\nBut you Poems? Always I’m left guessing.
\nYou just smirk there. Hinting, half confessing.
\nYeah, we both know you’ve done a little time;
\nyou’ve stolen stuff to get yourself a ‘line’.
\nAnd this thing about being a sonnet
\nin a past life. Just grow up – be honest!
\nAll poems can change –\u00a0and that includes\u00a0you.
\nOf course you\u00a0must really, truly,\u00a0want to…<\/p>\n