TAKING CARE
My mother teeters at the white lip of the bath,
precarious on legs she can't rely on.
Wears a fluffy pink towel draped like a shawl.
She has dwindled down so small.
I am testing the temperature, warm not hot,
while she waits to receive this weekly blessing.
Shower head in one hand, shampoo in the other,
I ask if she's ready to begin.
Now her head is in my hands, her frail
precious skull. The bones of it
are bird-like. Her still dark hair is
feathers: fine and downy as a fledgling's.
When she trembles I imagine
she'll take flight.
By Abigail Ottley, winner of the PBS & Metro Poetry Prize
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THE PBS METRO POETRY PRIZE WINNERS
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We’re delighted to announce the winners of our fouth annual Metro Poetry Prize in partnership with Nexus, our local Tyne and Wear metro system, on the theme of ‘Care’. 352 entries were received and four - one winner and three runners up - are now on display in large poster sites at Longbenton Metro Station, which is used by more than one million customers every year. The poems were judged by representatives from Nexus, plus poet Jane Burn and Alice Mullen, manager of the Poetry Book Society. Abigail Ottley, a former English teacher and now full time writer and poet, from Essex, won the competition with a poem titled ‘Taking Care’ about her mother. The runners up were Thea Smiley, Ama Bolton and Tracy Davidson.
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PBS Manager Alice said: “The judges and I were incredibly touched by the winning poem, ‘Taking Care’ by Abigail Ottley, with its beautifully crafted and moving scene of a daughter washing her elderly mother’s hair. This is a tender role-reversal written with such sensitivity, care and love – a powerful image which will resonate with many.
Our three runner-ups brought great variety to the theme of “care”, from the surprising sense of fun found during chemotherapy in ‘Mother Daughter Time’ (“Mum really rocked the Mohawk”) to the stark disaster zone of ‘Survivor’ and a powerful refugee perspective in ‘Mexican Oranges’, which conjures up such a bright final image of hope. There is something for everyone in each of these winning poems – a taste of empathy and a reminder to “care” for those around us on our daily commutes.”
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Startling by Linda France
Climate poetry at its most urgent, Startling is a galvanising collection of poems exploring extinction and emergency. Grounded in seasonal fieldwork and close observation, these poems call for a rewilding of the self and our landscape: a radical act of tenderness.
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So to Speak by Terrance Hayes
Former T.S. Eliot shortlistee Terrance Hayes draws the reader into fabulous fables, American sonnets and do-it-yourself sestinas. Talking cats tell jokes and elegies unfold, as Hayes contemplates fatherhood, history and longing in these masterful and deeply alive poems.
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JOIN OUR GLOBAL POETRY COMMUNITY
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We've got so many exciting poetry books to share with you this Spring. We can't wait for you to read our Spring Selections by Richard Scott, Charles Lang, Dane Holt, Desree, Diane Seuss and more. Choice Members enjoy our inspiring poetry magazine, full of poems, reviews and interviews PLUS all new members get a copy of the PBS Winter Choice book by Ian Duhig and Winter Bulletin, as well as access to online reading notes, our lively poetry community and 25% off our extensive online poetry bookshop.
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The Poetry Book Society was founded by T S Eliot to 'propagate the art of poetry'. Every quarter our expert Selectors choose the best new poetry books to deliver to our members. Find out more about joining the PBS here.
WWW.POETRYBOOKS.CO.UK
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