Tuesday 10 August 2010

A Wife's Portrait

A WIFE'S PORTRAIT

for Mervyn Peake
And it was her love
brought forth his joy
who took leave on a forged pass
when a sergeant denied romance
to visit his love the just bearer
of their second child
The joy of their love
negated the army's medical rejection
invalided out meant home
to write to draw to make love
family willing sitters
for fairy-tale illustrations
The fame did not come easy
Harsh critics tore at a sensitive mind
Senility is a hard case
for the young to swallow in the young
And it was her love
that caused more anguish pain
at seeing him drained of the forces
that transformed inspiration
into poetry
She does not talk now
of those days
remembers not the homes that weren't
thinks more of tea rooms
a Chelsea attic a country cottage
and a man whose sickness was Age
© Gerald England

Composed: Sheffield, 20th February 1973

Publications

1974 Pennine Platform (UK)
1976 MEETINGS AT THE MOOR'S EDGE (West Kirkby, Headland)
1988 Iota (UK)
1997 Poetry Lounge (Internet)
2000 Sydney Mosaic (Internet)

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