THIS MONTH’S WINNER

This month’s winning poem, ‘Light Falling’ recalls times gone by, when three little girls bathed together in a “deep claw footed bath” in rainwater and lemon juice. Their carer, in a “waisted floral dress” with “sure hands”, used an enamel jug to wash their hair, suggesting a time before taps were in use. The image of the lemons (“golden orbs”) which links to the girls through its juice, is simply expressed, but the poet’s skilful use of metaphor means the scene is created as vividly as if it were a painting before our eyes.