2 poems by Ruth Sheldon

The Cook and her Five Lovers

quodling of goldsnipe    shaped like a persimmon

come in or go out    old bread and butter man

pound a few capers   with anchovies   basil

a handful of gherkins   parsley   an eel 

stirs on the board    curls into a fist

smoked salt    bay leaves    something I missed

whisk     tower of petals    from the first fall of snow

fall on your tongue     as you’re turning to go

this way or that     salt- sweet- sharp  slip from my ladle

spoon by spoon  you  approach the plain table

my hands    palms open

water    yeast   flour   flame   no words spoken

The Escapologist

Jongleur Jongleur called the waves you gurning 

through your mother’s waters springing

out you never wanted to leave again 

you walked back out frayed sneakers first you raised chains

from the seas took an axe to the foetid streets                

the slit windows in Sing-Sing opening the main gate

with a rolled-up pardon Mad Mad you insouciant,

running to the straitjacket’s outstretched arms 

you never wanted to leave again you walked back 

into the afterlife nails concealed in your callouses Fool Fool

called the crowds half for death half

for your springing out the poor

sat still for hours without speaking

waiting for your breaking-free

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Ruth Sheldon was born in Nottingham in 1951, she has published poetry for over thirty years. Her books include Making Nothing Happen(Ashgate, 2014), Arthur Talks (Palewell Press, 2019) and Starwise (Palewell Press, 2023). Her poem ‘Brigid’ won first prize in the Manchester Cathedral Poetry Competition in 2024.