The Poem of the Month for April 2023, selected by 2023 Anthology Editors, Maria Vouis and Rob Ferris, is Musings on a Chinese Scroll by David Cookson. The commended poems for April are The Old Horns by Ivan Rehorek aka Avalanche and The Piano by Louise Nicholas.
Musings on a Chinese Scroll
David Cookson
Impossible cliffs thrust
into broad-brush clouds,
their conifers clawing naked rock
bereft of bird or life
until bottom left, a sage,
crossing a bridge,
hat, sandals and staff:
five brush strokes
that touch perfection —
remind of other complements;
a curve of throat,
misty crags,
your lips, parted,
just enough,
just before.
The Old Horns
Ivan Rehorek
Take up the old horns
And play them right
On the road to the unbeaten sky
That daily service smile and birdsong
Out upon the living stage –
Take up the old horns
And wear them right,
Let the winds blow
On the road to the unbeaten sky.
And it’s long since past
Searching for another journey,
So take up the old horns
Like a kick to the head
Just to score another goal
On the road to the unbeaten sky…
And if you don’t know where to go,
Try looking down at your feet
And take up the old horns
Out there on the road to the unbeaten sky!