Ceinwen Haydon lives in Newcastle upon Tyne, UK. She writes short stories and poetry. She has been widely published in web magazines and print anthologies. She was Highly Commended in the Blue Nib Chapbook Competition [Spring 2018], won the Hedgehog Press Poetry Competition ‘Songs to Learn and Sing’ [August 2018] and was shortlisted for the Neatly Folded Paper Pamphlet Competition, Hedgehog Press [October 2018]. She is a winner in the Nicely Folded Paper Pamphlet Competition (July 2019). Her first Chapbook is due to be published shortly, (‘Cerddi Bach’ [Little Poems], a Stickleback by Hedgehog Press. She holds an MA in Creative Writing from Newcastle University (2017) and she is developing practice as a creative writing facilitator with hard to reach groups. She believes everyone’s voice counts.

in denial

we took vigour for granted in our middle years
blessed with strong limbs, we climbed steep hillsides
drank deep, savoured gulps of air and wine in late sunshine
our backs still straight, minds sharp as fractured glass
 
blessed with strong limbs, we climbed steep hillsides
thought old-age hovered on far horizons near gentle descents
our backs still straight and minds sharp as fractured glass
ancient goddesses waited, mocked our hubris
 
we denied old-age hovered by our path near risky declines
did we truly believe we could end our time unscathed –
ancient goddesses waited, mocked our hubris
cruel, they reflected our shrunken shapes in mirrors
 
did we truly believe we would end our time unscathed –
drinking deep gulps of air and wine in late sunshine
ignored our shrinking shapes in mirrors
we took vigour for granted in our middle years

Sweltering

Sunshine furnaced his molten rage to flow
Cool days controlled his outbursts hitherto
She’d longed to tame his caustic undertow
Sunshine furnaced his molten rage to flow
His sarcastic words filled her heart with woe
He loathed fond love that moved her mouth to coo
Sunshine furnaced his molten rage to flow
Cool days controlled his outbursts hitherto

making music

to learn to sing
I had to learn to listen
at nearly three score years and ten