We are working on podcasts of the winning poem and winning short story from our Dragon’s Pen competition. However, due to those pesky ‘technical issues’, the podcasts have been delayed.
In the meantime, we will be posting the print versions of the winning poem and winning short story here. This week, we are starting with the poem. The winning poem was a wonderful piece called Wed, by Ruth Johnston. Our judges – Laura Marney, Kirsty Logan, Magi Gibson and Wendy Kirk – all loved this one. Some of their comments were:
“Ruth’s poem was so impressive, and I know we’ll be seeing her name in print in the future.”
“A completely original and anti romantic take on the marriage ceremony, there is an understated anger in the woman’s voice which is intriguing.”
“WED was a standout for me…It works perfectly.”
Here is Ruth’s poem, we hope you enjoy it as much as we did.
Wed – by Ruth Johnston
We married outdoors,
the weather held,
but the cold, that could be cut
by the breath of a stag on the lawn,
turned my legs blue beneath
the sheath of lace that was my dress.
Even in the white furs,
my lips chattered, painted oxblood red,
that smeared on a chain of pearls
I kept putting in my mouth,
and you in your tweed waistcoat,
and hat with the pheasant feather,
that you insisted you’d wear.
After we returned to the house,
and I sat on the floor
by the fire
my dress fanned over a sheepskin rug,
the train of my veil damp with a mud crust
from the walk back along the path
of leaves and earth and rabbit shit.
Someone fussed
over the veil
and my hair,
and there was whisky for the boys,
and the cold,
and everyone said,
how small I looked,
and you,
you were on the other side of the room,
the Laphroaig in your palm,
and I was struck by your calm manner,
the playful jokes,
sweeping anecdotes,
and the masterful strokes
you took of your hair.
The way all this seemed to make you a man.
We hope you will agree that Ruth’s poem was a truly worthy winner. As one of our judges says “I like the comparison of a wedding to a hunting party. The usual impression is that the woman ‘catches’ a man but here the man is the hunter and the woman is the prey.” Congratulations once again to Ruth. Our judges are right. We will definitely be seeing your name in print, hopefully very soon.
Next week, we will feature the winning entry in the short story category. We have all the entries we received exhibited at GWL, so why not come in and relax with a cup of tea and have a read of some of the wonderful poems and stories we received.
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