Click on Menu above to see previous pages

I am not sure if it is because of my age, the time of year, the world situation but I seem to be regressing into memories for my inspiration. This poem came while I was with the Bealtaine Writers in Annamakerrig this year. The Image is the first known painting by Francis Bacon and I saw it in the Leger Museum in Biot. There is no particular reason for putting them together other than I like the idea of it. As usual, enjoy and let me know what you think. Share the site with your friends too.

Francis Bacon

Francis Bacon

A Most Unexpected Thing to Notice

Thirty-eight years ago, she slid

between her mother’s thighs,

was u-turned, flopped belly onto belly

in all the glory of her gory fluids

Delivery for both was seamless

a major difference from before

Her cry was gently strong that told us

all was safe and well

we could come down from high alert

Her colour changed quite quickly,

blue to red to bursting skin tone

the faintest blood iron smell

rose up to meet our nostrils

A most striking thing that almost

did me in, her perfect little nails

already needed trimming. Her son

would later use the phrase

How did that happen

Then wrapped, unwashed I held her close

the fullest richest parcel ever placed

in my arm crook to make a lifelong bond

Peter Clarke May 2018

Comments

Leo S

10.07.2018 16:17

Touching...on many levels and in many ways...

Phil

12.06.2018 21:10

Lovely!

Pauline

12.06.2018 10:31

Beautiful, beautiful

David

Nailed it! Beautifully! :)

Colm

12.06.2018 05:09

09.06.2018 19:08

That's an eye burner! Very touching and evocative. Thanks Peter.

Sorcha

09.06.2018 07:40

Ehhhh thirty SEVEN years ago.. (for another few months anyway)
Love love love this poem. Thank you Da.

Marguerite Colgan

09.06.2018 05:59

Peter, what a full rich telling of the miracle of a new person made from woman and man. Thank you for sharing and re-minding me.

Latest comments

25.11 | 22:15

Grief is experience through the mundane. Simple but powerful. The accompanying image really compliments the poem.

07.11 | 11:14

Hi Peter,

A great observation! Social media can be a scary place... I also need to reduce my time there

Hugs,

John.x

06.11 | 16:24

A great one, Peter, in the context you describe. I don't read social media myself, I doubt my equilibrium could stand it. 'The balance of his mind disturbed' yes, I think it would be.

06.11 | 15:59

Yes, gossip is a weapon of mass destruction.

In my business as well as personal life I have zero tolerance.

Share this page