Almost

 

missing I am    those words

words

in shops and passing words

 

that are almost    not language

a flex

of the muscle      of the palate

 

a ruler on the tongue

I miss

sullen vowels sudden    consonants

 

words

I hung upon a hook

like a coat too heavy for the season

 

whilst I chose something lighter

that almost

fitted

 

& used my teeth for speaking

I could not tell

how I was feeling

 

words

knotted

have I  not saying

 

the ear is almost a tongue

the eye also

articulate     define

 

 

Gareth Writer-Davies is from Brecon, Wales. Shortlisted Bridport Prize (2014 and 2017) Commended Prole Laureate Competition (2015) Prole Laureate for 2017. Commended Welsh Poetry Competition (2015) Highly Commended in 2017 . Pamphlets Bodies (2015)  Cry Baby (2017)  Indigo Dreams. Collection The Lover’s Pinch ( 2018) and pamphlet The End (2019) Arenig Press