Haywain, by Paul Brookes

The Hay Wain, by John Constable (UK), 1821.

Haywain
 
Her milkman Grandad often takes
her, his horse, cart and churns on his rounds
gifts her a small pony trap and horse.
 
Older she hangs a copy of "The Haywain"
above a dark brown oak dining table
with its curved back oak chairs
 
lit by white light French windows
on to a grey concrete slabbed patio.
 
She knows the smell of worked horse,
creak of cart and water's rhythm,
much like milk slap and hooves on cobbles.

Paul Brookes
 
Paul Brookes was shop assistant, security guard, postman, admin. assistant, lecturer, poetry performer, with "Rats for Love", his work included in "Rats for Love: The Book", Bristol Broadsides, 1990. First chapbook was "The Fabulous Invention Of Barnsley", Dearne Community Arts, 1993. Read his work on BBC Radio Bristol, had a creative writing workshop for sixth formers broadcast on BBC Radio Five Live. Recently published in Clear Poetry, Nixes Mate, Live Nude Poems, The Bezine, The Bees Are Dead and others.

Forthcoming this summer is an illustrated chapbook called "The Spermbot Blues" published by OpPRESS, and tentatively in autumn "The Headpoke" illustrated chapbook published by Alien Buddha Press.