Stop’t

Aldeburgh, Suffolk Summer 2013

Stop’t

On the Town Steps she stops twice
Soon it will be three times
To catch her strength and find her breath
(Last year once only)
But years race her onward
And she half welcomes the destination
Half fears it too.
So no more repairs
To the frayed blue overcoat cuffs,
The threadbare blouse
Or the ravelled heart
She will stop cleanly and purposefully
Undisturbed by what others do to prolong
A life, a death, well made.

Reviews

[Jimmy Yetts]

None of us is going to get out of this alive. The way we live, the manner in which we exit, these are the things that should concern us.
A perceptive and empathetic poem.
Excellent, Alex!

[Alex Thurley-Ratcliff]

Thank you FrankieJ !
I saw an old lady on these long steps - and in a moment it felt like her whole life - up and down - and the choice she had. Rather than be maudlin - like you say, the manner in which we exit - and that shouldn't be sad.