When I Read About The War

Poetry

A poem by Pratibha Castle from her most recent poetry collection, Miniskirts in The Waste Land.

Letter plate in door

I remember     your gun metal Beetle
chuntering down the Via Appia
a cough like my Singer treadle

the square off Piazza Navona
where we chilled
on a crumbling fountain edge
chaperoned by a pissing cherub
guzzled watermelon
pistachio ice
licked sugar trickles
off each other’s chins
my milk skin curdling
in august blaze

I remember     stars
combusting in a cobalt sky
sand     and your gaze
burrowing in secret crevices
as we lazed     to heartbeat waves
octopus-limbed after loving
transported on the magic carpet
of your army sleeping bag

I remember     a siege
of pewter clouds
russet leaves
blitzing rubbish bags
outside my Chelsea flat
where I loitered in the hall
chewed split ends
watching for the post
your last note
smeary in my pocket
shipping out to ‘Nam
tomorrow

I remember the day
an airmail like a moth
blue as your eyes
fluttered to the mat
green heroic script

Jeff mentioned you
This dude dropped by
Jeff’s missing
Jeff’s sister June

Miniskirts in The Waste Land by Pratibha CastleMiniskirts in the Waste Land
by Pratibha Castle
Hedgehog Poetry Press, 2023 – hedgehogpress.co.uk
36 pages
ISBN-10: ‎ 191349974X
ISBN-13: ‎ 978-1913499747
Available through the author’s website pratibhacastlepoetry.com

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Featured image by Shaun Bell on unsplash.com

Pratibha

Pratibha Castle is a published poet and winner of various poetry competitions. Retired from singing and holistic therapies, she remains a keen gardener and poet. pratibhacastlepoetry.com

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