The Arkbound Foundation and the Bridging Literary Divides team are delighted to introduce you to two works of poetry by Sarah Morris, mentored and edited by Matthew Azoulay.
last seen
i want to be like them
The Missing
i want a feature in the Big Issue
the ‘ last seen’ scenario
‘she seemed fine at the drop off!’
parked at the school gates
waving goodbye to boys 6 and 8
in her favourite coat,
non branded, clean, parka green.
despair of staying here
makes my nurture seem like torture.
There’s only comfort in my escape.
i want to get away up the M8
music on full blast
shoebox of stashed cash
start a new life
yes, away by the sea
no questions asked.
but i imagine you
being led back to the school
only a weary teacher to wait with
then driven back
when I don’t return
to a house no longer a home.
i won’t leave my children
a legacy of loss.
i cant be like them.
The Missing are those who go
and stay gone.
i’ll be the one
dashing back for the pick up
shouting ‘sorry i’m late’
last seen
at the school gate
clutching kids.
Forest Lust
Silent trees in late summer held their breath
as they watched our walk begin.
They showered shakes of raindrops
upon our shoulders.
Our hands slipped together as
we tripped on muddy paths.
The branches held out against the breeze
as we found a well placed bench to snuggle on.
The forest sighed, it giggled
and no doubt rolled it’s wooden eyes
as slowly his hand moved up my thigh.
Showers pattered on the leafy canopy
as the touching grew too close
but water drops could not distract them now.
The trees finally let out their breath
whooshing through the greenery.
Fresh leaves whizzed around our heads,
as we tangled up our bodies
on the squishy mossy ground.
Those trees held their breath again,
listened and softly blushed
a pinky kind of green.
They had kept so many lovers secrets safe
down there in the mulch
and the squelch of lust.
The summer trees tussled amongst themselves
regained their stature, swaying, aloof
but they watched us wandering back the way
looser, lighter
and they laughed.
Sarah Morris has been mentored by Matthew Azoulay and has developed her diverse poetry to a point where she is now publication ready. Sarah writes the kind of poetry that roots you in the gritty and the bittersweet humanity of experience, with all the joy and pathos that entails. Combining a great sensitivity to nature and memoir-sourced social realism, she is not afraid to make you laugh wildly, shed tears or even give you a left hook to the body with her surprising poems. Although her verse is ‘free’ it contains its own undulating and sensuous logic. Most of all, her poetry is unpretentious. Sarah is no stranger to the Scottish performance scene and is a highly committed poet on the circuit, with a keen understanding of rhythm and delivery.
For more information on Sarah Morris, contact Sarah directly at: milliecat47@gmail.com
Instagram: @sarah-morris-poetry