Elsewhere

by Jeremy Haworth

 

Storm-coked waters,

Rain-stitched earth,

wind cold as the swipe

 

of a feathered hook

peeling the iron

of trawlers junked

 

in a bath of silt.

One a hoop of ribs,

another a cringe of rust.

 

Staling in the cramp

of metal scrap, engines,

diesel fumes,

 

dead fish,

nettles, tangled nets,

a fisherman’s shack

 

and a kitchen slump  

of tabloids, takeaways,

empty bottles,  

 

where the postcard  

on a cupboard door

telegraphs elsewhere

 

on an A6 palimpsest 

of sand and clear water –

Playa de Palma – 

 

the blear of gold weather, 

bronze skin, speedos –  

Sunny Mallorca 

 

and on the rear, 

where cobalt biro runs – 

Wish you were here. 

---

Headstuff is now open for poetry submissions for our spring Poem of the Week series. We are also accepting submissions for Poetry Week. Submission window for both is open until the 31st of March 2020. Check our submissions page for guidelines. 

You can read more poems by Jeremy Haworth here.

Cover image by Daoudi Aissa on Unsplash