Elizabeth Chadwick Pywell
All over the world, plants are alive without trying
but honestly, this is harder than expected.
There are women in families & couples & all alone
whom I haven’t yet met, who might be
my mother if I let them. Other people have chosen
to stay & others will make that choice, so why can’t I?
Whatever happens, green & blue exist separately
& together thank God. We could decorate
on that basis. We could take a room each then meet
in the hallway & blend. But also, I cannot
forget the taste of light when you first fed me
lemon rind. The orchid we chose together
flowers every year. Next time, I want to be ready.
Elizabeth Chadwick Pywell was awarded the Northern Writers’ Debut Award for Poetry and a place on the Out-Spoken Press Emerging Poets Development Scheme in 2022. Her pamphlet, Breaking (Out) was published by Selcouth Station Press, and Unknown by Stairwell Press. Her work has been longlisted for the Leeds Poetry Prize and Mslexia Women’s Poetry Competition, and shortlisted for the Ironbridge Festival Prize.
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