Two Artists in an Exhibition – Mary Markwell

The George Crabbe Memorial Poetry Competition
1975 Crabbe Memorial Competition – First Prize
Adjudicators: Elizabeth Thomas, Clifford Simmons, Chris Wright

1. Lady
Your houses sit
At all the wrong angles,
They drowse in perpetual sunlight
In lanes, in climbing to heaven;
Wood sheep, jigsaw cattle
Graze in unlikely meadows,
Crude blossoms
Stare from preposterous trees.
Oh but you are a gypsy.
Yes,
Jet haired, bright scarfed,
Gold ringed
With your basket full
Of scarlet flowers,
Your basket full
Of passionate flowers.

2. Sir,
Your deliberately pared lines
Show a fine confidence,
You set out each situation
With exact elegance.
But your shapes are prisons;
Beautiful gaols for dimmed
Dragonflies, cages
For rich humming birds.

Copyright © Mary Markwell 1975