PETERLOO PRIZE WINNER ALISON PRYDE:
HAVE WE HAD EASTER YET?
Alison Pryde lives outside Berwick and has written for years. It was only recently, however, that she thought of having her work published. To her surprise, I think, she found the prestigious poetry publisher, Peterloo, were eager to take her work on. In due course there came Have we had Easter Yet? Since then, Alison has won a major prize for her work, given readings all over the country and run literary workshops and master classes.
We have Alison's permission to print her title poem here.
Have we had Easter Yet?
'Who are you?' asks my mother.
'If you're looking after me
I ought to know your name.'
I show her me when I was small,
A faded photograph.
'That's Bobbins,' she says instantly.
'I wonder where she is, she never comes to see me.'
I go away. To get my mother's lunch.
'How good it looks. Please thank the cook.'
Later I find it in the bin.
'I didn't know who'd cooked it,
So I had those custard creams.'
She smiles at me with faded, muddled eyes
And says my name,
Then struggles off on shaky legs,
Looks for her stick,
Opens the outside door,
Calls home dead dogs.