by Rhian Elizabeth
I posted the obligatory back to school photograph of my daughter on Facebook this morning. Because if you don’t post that photo then basically you are a bad mother and all your Facebook mother friends will judge you.
Although I will admit that, unlike other parents and their photo captions, I was not 'bursting with pride' at the sight of Scout in her new uniform (after weeks of complaining about the stiffness of collars and the length of skirts and the uncomfortableness of ties I was just glad she put the fucking thing on), I was not lamenting about how fast she is growing up, I did not want 'time to slow down' (I can’t wait until she’s 18 and old enough to start doing shit for me for a change) and there were no tears of joy dripping from my eyes as she disappeared around the corner off on her 'new adventure', only tears of relief that she was out of the house after 6 weeks of annoying the hell out of me.
I know I have annoyed her too, perhaps even more than she’s annoyed me, so I bet she’s glad of the break as well.
Back to school for Scout and back to work for me.
I launched the last polar bear on earth in Sweden back in July, but its official launch in the UK is this Friday, tomorrow night, at the Cardiff Book Festival.
I am lucky enough to be sharing the stage with excellent poets and pals, Rhys Owain Williams and Mari Ellis Dunning, who are also launching their poetry collections. It’s going to be a good night.
Both writers will be making their own contributions to my blog in the next couple of weeks but for now I thought I’d share with you my favourite poems from their wonderful collections. And, in honour of my daughter who annoys me and who went back to school today (thank you, Lord), a poem I wrote about her.
We will be on stage at 7.30pm, Jury’s Inn, Cardiff.
Tickets are available here:
Over and out.
Marking Out the Ground with String
Each hard capsule contains 20mg of Fluoxetine
in the form of a tentative note on the calendar, a steaming
mug cradled in your palms, E171,
Brilliant Blue.
For oral use. Use daily until the bite seeps from your bone
marrow.
Take as directed by physician, who advises a brisk walk,
a good night’s sleep, a slice of bread.
Store in original container.
Keep out of reach and sight of children; grapple to remember
that you are still a child yourself.
Mari Ellis Dunning
Salacia
letter to my daughter
most of all
i hope you will be happy
but i hope you will also be smart
be careful
be brave
ride
on the biggest rollercoaster at the fair
don’t take drugs
except for your vitamin d
drive a nice car
but be environmentally friendly
travel the world
don’t stay where you are
swim seas and climb mountains
go to yosemite and the grand canyon
anywhere and everywhere you want
don’t forget to call me though
to tell me all about it
always call me
fall in love
but be their wallis simpson
find someone
who would give up everything for you
and when you’ve done all that
i hope you will look after me
when i need you
the way i looked after you
when you had your tonsils out
you even had a bell to ring when you wanted
ice cubes
and snacks
so don’t you forget that fucking bell
but i’ll try not to need you
for a long time yet.
Rhian Elizabeth
the last polar bear on earth
