New Welsh Review

Three Poems by Jacqueline Martin

Broken-Hearted

 

Stupid
lovesick
mollusc
always
swimming
without
thinking
into
awkward
little
spaces
until
one is
narrowed
at the
neck the
neck the
neck the
neck the
neck the
only
hope of
rescue
is to
wildly
wave a
leg or
seven

seven

seven

seven.

 

Broken heart syndrome = Takotsubo cardiomyopathy in which the left heart ventricle distends following a major emotional event and takes the shape of a Japanese octopus trap or Tako-Tsubo.

 

 

When Henry Took Anne of Cleves to Margate

 

Conceived as one of those last-ditchers
(allerletztes, she would say),
a day out was Thom Crom’s idea.
The last one – petals in her drawers –
made only must
and thrust the King away.

Old Meregate’s reputation
for some nug-a-nug and herring
brought the mistresses, full sparkle,
on the arms of pocket change:
might not a sovereign play his lustre down
and, roused by derring-don’t,

by salt and cuss, behold Anne’s glint
and comeliness at last?
Henry was more enchanted by the sky,
its fleshy clouds,
the harbour’s sandy tongue,
and Cromwell copped it, lost his arse.

 

 

Seashelled

 

Born with one ear,
the other left unfinished
as if busy sprites were called away
mid-pinna.

Whorled to swallow sound
into your silken skin,
the soft nub breathes,
anticipates

a wave or just a shallow tide,
and then only the shiver
of my voice
walking on tiny bones.

 

Jacqueline Martin is an alumnus of Aberystwyth University where she studied Fine Art; she has also graduated in Graphic Design, Computing, Creative Writing and Health Sciences. Her working background is in publishing, broadcast media, skills research and physical therapy. She is currently a fine art printmaker and pantomime costumier. Her poetry has been published in Magma, Prole, The Moth, The Dawntreader, The Caterpillar and Popshot.