First, the ting-clang comforting din
of companion set with shovel
tuned to the scrape of grate and bucket then
fold, roll, wrap, tie, tuck it with sticks, with coal
till the glow of broadsheet rosettes
cast a news flash for the era
and headlines despatched themselves
from the hearth
immaculate hearth of the fire altar
lit by my mother, high priestess of the house
who, standing back decreed
that coal’s more like Slack, must speak to the coalman
Christine Hammond began writing poetry whilst studying English at Queen's University, Belfast. Her early poems were published in "The Gown" (QUB), "The Female Line" (NIWRM) and "Women's News" where, as one of the original members, she also wrote Arts Reviews and had work published in "Spare Rib". She returned to writing again after a long absence and her poetry has been featured in a variety of anthologies including "The Poet's Place" and "Movement" (Poetry in Motion - The Community Arts Partnership), "The Sea" (Rebel Poetry Ireland) and all three editions of "Washing Windows - Irish Women Write Poetry" (Arlen House). She has also been a reader at "Purely Poetry" Open Mic Night, Belfast.
More work by Christine Hammond
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