No clear winners this month.  14 people voted, but no-one agreed.  I enclose a list of all the poems selected.  I guess we could give it to Gus since two of his poems made the list.   Thanks to all who voted. If you didn't vote this month but would like to get involved, all  you have to do is keep a note of poems you enjoyed in the current month's blogs and email me with your favourite by 6th of the following month.  My email address is   farmoorgirl@yahoo.co.uk  x

Peter Crompton                            Writing I Love You in Slow Motion

Graham Sherwood                        The Departure

Deborah Jordan                            Of the Earth

Marianne Daniels                          Lessons in Loss

Rachel Bond                                Cradle

Cynthia Buell-Thomas                 6.15 on a Rainy Evening

John Darwin                                Melt (for its deft and understated handling of

                                                             erotica with a palpably chilling ending)

Nicky Burrows                            Crisis in the Skies

Che/Brass                                   Then Came Sadness From Beauty

Gemma Lees                               Keep Talking

Steve Regan                               A Brassiere?  In Grosvenor St?

Michael Shepherd                       A measured nature: Japanese Mind

Gus Jonsson                               Shirley and the Virgin

Gus Jonsson                               Shirley’s Bedroom

Second Choices

A few people couldn’t resist giving me more than one choice ��" I’ve listed them here since they don’t affect any results

Augusta Darling                     One night Stanza

Jessie                                     Aneurysm

Ralph Dartford                      The Loveless (for its evocative and imaginatively

                                                                   atmospheric portrayal of 

                                                                   soured love)

Gus it is then.

                                                     Shirley's Bedroom

Thousands of tiny silver stars and crescent moons streamed from a radiant golden sun

warming ambient against a backdrop of  the deepest blue ceiling.

Each tiny star placed, where it best advantaged this heavenly collage.

After a few moments, curiosity getting the better of me,

 I sat up.

In the soft grainy light,

strange ornate patterns were discernable

woven blue and gold into the fabric of the heavy curtains.

Not surprisingly,

a celestial theme had been used,

motifs and symbols of the zodiac,

golden scorpions,

 fish, crab and rampant lion.

Against the far wall stood a ornate mirrored wardrobe,

carved entangled flowers,

scaly griffins with twisting tails and angry gaping mouths.

 Reflected from the wardrobe's mirror I could make out gilded framed paintings pale female nudes

 languishing on a plump silken beds bedecked by bright exotic flowers.

Two bronze Amazonian sisters knelt submissively in the far corners of the room each one holding aloft bulbous heads of lotus.

A dressing table,

covered by an untidy array of perfume bottles,

and faded photographs framed in silver.

The bed was covered by silk throw - over’s,

 the head and foot meticulously carved.

Entwined angel and cherubim,

 bejewelled by exquisite ivory and brass inlays,

danced for a company of writhing satiric beasts

 their liquescent movement undulating on my every breath.

Within the shadows,

 placed beyond the foot of the bed were several small trunks and boxes

upon which were placed old gilt-edged books bound in leather,

round bound

scrolls of yellowing manuscripts

 tied with ribbon.

Sinking into the layers of soft feathery down, sleep came dancing up around me like a gentle incoming tide.