(*featured image: http://www.intown.com.au)
The more he looked the more Piglet wasn’t there.
A. A. Milne ‘The House at Pooh Corner’
The above quote sums up how I felt last week after submitting a poem for assessment. I was waiting for the feedback and the more I looked, the more it wasn’t there. We were going camping for a week and of course a week feels like a long time when you are waiting for feedback… I received the feedback the morning we left to go away so I didn’t get to post the poem when I wanted to.
We spent a week camping on the Barwon Coast in Victoria. We had everything from 18C drizzly wet days to 42C scorchers. The weather becomes all important when camping – there wasn’t really much between our living space and the great outdoors except a piece of canvas. I love some aspects of camping, the main one is that everything slows down. It takes time to do anything and when life takes time, life also slows down.
I hope to get my short story submitted for assessment this coming week so that I finish my current study period before school goes back the week after.
In the meantime I hope you enjoy the poem that I got back from my assessors. I’d love to know what you think of it.
YOU WILL NOT WIN
Anxiety, unwelcome, uninvited
Not wanted, still you came.
A masked intruder with
Fingers choking, like dark tendrils
Squeezing joy out of the tender
Heart and mind of my young daughter.
With an icy cruel blow, you make your move.
And it’s –
Hands sweating, heart pounding
Breath racing, eyes widening
Breath racing, panic rising
She looks at me:
‘Mummy, why am I always so scared?’
Then with a crash, your friend, Anger moves in.
And it’s –
Eyes flashing, mouth screaming
Doors slamming, feet stamping
Doors slamming, peace fleeing
And I ask of myself:
‘How can I be the mother she needs?’
But Love rises up from the depths and remains strong.
And it’s –
Arms embracing, heart slowing
Breath calming, muscles easing
Breath calming, mind relaxing.
She whispers into my neck:
‘Mummy, I love you.’
Anxiety, you will not win.
Sarah Guscott
January, 2018
the EAL Teacher Writer 