Author's Note, by Cai Draper

London Pride, by Frank Dobson (UK) 1950-1.

​Author’s Note

It would be fitting to consider staying silent.
Like bronze figures or stone
under moss. With an undisclosed plaster
hush, my mum was gay on the quiet.

To get it out right I convey the shame
when I overheard my best friend say,
They’re lesbians but
they're alright.

So I cast mum and Jules
in London Pride, civic and in solid.
​
About the lines, clay and scale
maquettes I plagiarise and stoop to plinths.
Feel what meanings fit.

Cai Draper

This poem is from a longer sequence of poems called London Pride, based on works of public sculpture along the Thames.

Cai Draper is a poet from south London, based in Norwich. His work has been published by Burning House Press, Poetical, DRAFT London, Salo Press & Eggbox. He has an MA in Creative Writing (Poetry) from UEA. @DraperCai