Vivid memories of a family holiday inspired this month’s poem ‘Boat trip’ by Clare Roberts. Clare said: ‘In 2020, we planned a holiday to honour my Mum’s 80th birthday, which falls just after Christmas. Covid put paid to that, and she was alone on both occasions, in the far north of England.
‘To compensate (in small measure), I wrote a series of poems celebrating our relationship, from holiday memories and shopping trips to the warmth of home and the conversations that enlivened our walks together.
‘Every year when I was a child, we had a family holiday to Mallorca. A favourite treat was a boat trip. We would dive for sea urchin shells before the exhilarating return, flying back across the bay, sitting precariously on the front deck.
‘I printed each poem on a sheet of coloured paper, wrapped them like scrolls and placed them in a decorated box.
‘She loved them. In return, she created a beautiful piece of table art with images and quotes from my poems, in embellished silks quilted and mixed with regular fabrics, with the added texture of ruffled flowers and sparkling Angelina fibres.’
To read Clare’s poem and see how her mother interpreted it visually go to cirenscene.com
For more work by local writers visit somewhere-else-writers.org.
Boat trip
Fingers grip the cleats, sticky
with watermelon,
as the motor boat thuds the waves.
Shells safely stowed,
moorings slackened, focus
in the moment of speed.
Salt wind enlivens my hair, stings
my freckled cheeks, and dangling calves
are dashed with spray.
Flattened thighs hug the deck
as we surge forward,
skimming blue air.
Bikini clings, spine curves
with each swell, booming
on the wooden hull.
Sea curves to sky
as we spin and glide
through Balearic summers.
By Clare Roberts
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