After Harold Gilman Tea in a Bedsitter 1916, by Pratibha Castle

Tea in a Bedsitter, by Harold Gilman (England) 1916

After Harold Gilman Tea in a Bedsitter 1916

The room is an underwater grotto
where we two women 
tout a sham harmony. 

Our glances glissando 
past a chair, spare
for a hero gone. 

Nessa delves. Scavenger fish, 
she nuzzles my loss. Sea anemone, 
fronds aflutter, 
fingering for crumbs. 
 
My turned-away back 
provokes. Nudges 
blossom to a gull’s scissor-stabs, 
guzzling dead snapper. 
 
Kettle hiss, memory of waves 
splashing, leaping at bare legs 
as the man we both desired
twirled me at the water’s edge. 

White tongues, myriad as stars, 
love’s vows, drenching till, 
dropping behind a dune, we 
shared strawberries, salt kisses, flesh. 

Rocking in the suck and swell, 
a tern’s limp body, shattered pledge 
of safe return. Wrecked hull 
poking from the sand, 
abandoned hope. 
 
Her words crowd in on me, fish 
shoaling, silver-scavenging my silence; 
nip toes, tickles sharpening to needle barbs. 
   
I daydream a cat, on a cushion 
before a log-coddled fire, 
curled in on itself 
like a woman’s longings. 

Tail aflicker, it sniffs our offerings. Milk 
on our granny’s saucer, porcelain, Venetian blue. 
Chicken breast, diced fine. 
Vain lures to tempt it to a lap. 

My dress strains, tightens. Hints 
my heart would hide, 
cradle, precious gems. 
Rubies. Pearls. Calcified tears. 

Pratibha Castle

Pratibha Castle has been involved in creative endeavours since a young child, dancing, sing, and playing the piano. Trained as a classical singer, she formed a folk duo in the early 70s. A mother, holistic therapist, facilitator for women’s healing and meditation, her mother’s death inspired her to return to writing in her 50s when she received a first-class honours degree in Creative Writing, continuing with a CW Masters. She is published in print and online and been recognised in numerous poetry competitions. Her award-winning debut pamphlet A Triptych of Birds and A Few Loose Feathers published 2022 will be followed by a second book, depicting 60s Notting Hill and India.