Caroline Smith was born in Ilford (UK). She studied sculpture at Goldsmiths College, London University. Her most recent poetry book, The Immigration Handbook was published by Seren and shortlisted for the 2016 Ted Hughes Award. It was translated into Italian in 2020. Twitter: @csmithpoet

***

Printer

suddenly, randomly
throughout the day
the printer starts up,
lurching into action
laboriously printing nothing
before settling restlessly.
The way my father,
with small bursts of effort
will clutch at the sides of his bed
trying to lift himself out,
before sinking back. 

***

Lane

Home from work,
sleeves rolled up in the cool evening,
he’d steady me on my new second-hand bike 
along the flat lane 
where damp rose from the water-rat stream.
First crossing the busy road, 
he’d gather up the bikes by their handle bars 
and carry them over,
while we held his other hand and sleeves.
He’d start me off,
hand on the back of the torn plastic saddle
until, imperceptibly, 
our whole life together passing,
I found he’d let go.
 

***

Ellen Maud Smith 

There was no music at her brief committal.
Seven in attendance, two nurses and us
in the small church in the Essex village
where Ellen was born and lived all her life.
The only daughter amid six sons,
she’d cared for her parents and her last brother,
and then, when none of the village boys
came back from the war, lived on 
in the dwelling sunk behind a now busy road,
among cow parsley and tottering beehives.
She’d often tell of the day
she won first prize at the singing gala
in the summer church fete.
How she’d sung Ave Maria in her bonnet and ribbons
her voice sweet as a green linnet 
above the upturned faces of that afternoon.
How she’d skipped home in the cooling sun
black-blue swallows skimming 
evening insects off the long pale grass – 
the lights coming on in the village
and her whole life ahead.

***

Publishing credits

“Printer”: first place in East Ridge Review‘s Wintergreen Poetry Contest 2023
“Lane”: exclusive first publication by East Ridge Review
“Ellen Maud Smith”: shortlisted: The Keats/Shelley Poetry Prize 2022