Novels and Poems

I've been busily writing my follow up novel, working title "Derelict". When people ask me how long it took me to write "Charcoal" the answer varies between "2 years", which is the timespan from actually starting writing to finishing the final draft, to "all my life". This is, in many ways, true. I am hopeful that Derelict will not take quite as long to complete!

This month sees the publication of one of my poems "Jubilee Memories" in an anthology from Forward Poetry. Amazingly, it has a jubilee theme - although the celebrations seem like a long time ago now.

I have a different poem for you today, based on one too many visits to soft play areas.

Sunday Dads

All the kids in the cage

Whilst the Sunday dads sit down

Drinking tea, reading the paper,

Looking everywhere but

At the two mewling boys

They brought with them.

Stood, finger-gripping 

The netted enclosure,

Everything padded and safe.

"Dad!" A shout. "Watch me!"

And reluctantly they look up

From their papers to see 

nothing special.

Once a week, this routine:

Kids in their scruffs, and 

Dads in their bests.

Letting the mums know 

They're doing ok. That

Everything's fine (now).

Down the wavy slide

And up the padded path.

"I've had an accident in the ball pool"

Is covered up by the statement

That it's time to go home.