Today’s poem

SPIRITUAL POETRY

The newspaper ad jumped out at her And she hoped she still had time. It said: ‘Come along to our poetry night On Saturday at 9.’ Well, this was something not to be missed; She hadn’t seen the ad before, And with her love of poetry Could not resist the lure. She drove up to the venue — a darkened little back street And walked up to the unpainted door Wondering who she’d meet. But no one came to greet her And with no one else in the place She felt a little nervous And her heart began to race. She decided she would shuffle out — Hopefully unnoticed Then suddenly lights lit a small low stage She then became quite focused. From a little anticipation To a jaw-dropping surprise She hardly believed what she witnessed Right before her eyes! First to read was Betjeman With flowing words so grand, Taking her on a journey Through his ‘Metroland’. Then Wordsworth told the story Of his host of daffodils And Mr Hardy captured her With Tess Of The D’Urbervilles. Recitals from Byron to Auden And Keats through to Owen, The splendour of the moment Left her warm and glowing. The finale took her breath away She sat there shuddering As Mr Shakespeare straightened his ruff Reciting in full swing! All the lights went out then As she stumbled in the dark to the door, Backtracking through that back street She had tracked a short time before. At home she looked for the newspaper And the ad that had made her heart race But gasped at the page as all she saw Was an empty, big white space! Sheila Webb, Chesham, Bucks.