Soliloquy

O little sister. little lark. little mischief
never to be found out.

How your broad smile is a quartered melon
and answers drip from my chin.

O little mirror. little wheel. little carriage
into the universe next door.

How we ride side-by-side and yet
not facing eye-to-eye, still speak in tandem.

O little riddle. little nudge. little double;
we bud, we flower in synchrony.

How I picture you and you invent me
in all our imaginary to and fro.

 

 

 

Julia Stothard lives in Shepperton and works at Royal Holloway, University of London. Her poems have appeared in various publications including Ink, Sweat & Tears, Atrium, Orbis and the competition anthologies for Dempsey & Windle and Ver Poetry.