His friends all know
the score, what lies ahead:
a master class, soft music,
while, at home, a figure
practices a solo waltz
then lifts the phone;
his mobile cries ‘It’s time
to go!’ He moves across
the rumpled bed
then takes his partner
one more time,
conducts his truth,
the lies ahead.
Excellent… but have I seen it before?
Can I ask you Martin (as I don’t know how you do it) how do you decide where to put the line breaks and where to put the stanza breaks? Obviously you might not want to tell me unless you kill me first but I thought I would ask anyway. For me the breaks add to the drama. Did you do this on purpose? Do you just like short(ish) lines? I could see this as a prose poem too but perhaps it would not be as powerful if the form were changed. Just chewing your ear in an attempt to learn more.
Robbie: Yes, the original version is dated 19th June 2008, but it’s much changed.
Sarah : I’ve emailed you separately!