Dead Good Poets

East Timor, September 1999

Exchanging Words

The Sea the Sea

The Dead Good Poets online anthology of poetry by writers from and associated with Aberdeen was published in 2006/2007 with funding from Aberdeen City Council.

For more information about the literary scene in Aberdeen and North-East Scotland please see North East Writers.

The Return

Olivia McMahon

We sat on the plush settee
flanked by mahogany,
slowly turning the pages of albums —
photos of weddings, holidays,
grandchildren playing in gardens.
Catching up.

But I hadn't wanted to catch up,
I'd wanted to go back
to a weekday morning in Paddington,
to our bed sit.
Housewives' Choice is playing a song from South Pacific:
'I'm gonna wash that man right outta my hair...'
Nylon stockings are hanging from the mantelpiece
like votives, anchored by inkpots,
and I'm upon my knees,
ironing on the threadbare carpet.

And life is still a garment hardly worn.

The copyright in all material appearing on this website remains with the authors. No part of this website may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical or otherwise, without the prior permission of the copyright owners.

Terms and Conditions • Website © HH0 2006–2016