Well Versed

Reverently she smoothes
the creases of the silver gloves,
almost the length of her small arms.

(Bestowed upon her by an aunt -
no use to that doughty housewife -
"Where would I go to wear them?")

But the child fell under their spell.
Sparkling like diamonds
on her pearly pre-pubescent skin.

"She walks in beauty, like the night
Of cloudless climes and starry skies;
And all that's best of dark and bright
Meet in her aspect and eyes."

"Look at her! Who does she think she is!"
In shame she strips them from her hands
and hides the gift in her most secret place,

and boasts "I didn't like them really."
But with the woman, severely unadorned,
she walks in beauty.

About the poet

Valerie Darville is, together with Anthony Fisher and then later Jane Elder, an organiser of the Salisbury House Poetry Evenings. The evenings take place at 7.30pm on the first Saturday of the month at Salisbury House, Bury Street West, Enfield.

John Rety of Hearing Eye Press and Torriano Meeting House is a former editor of anarchist paper Freedom. All are welcome at the Torriano Poets for Peace at Housemans, April 2 from 7pm with Paul Birtill and Angela Kirby, introduced by John Rety.

www.torriano.org
www.hearingeye.org