The December countryside purrs sun-drenched.
Dazed by a barrage of rays, Lourmarin’s
buildings, cut-sandstone cream, curl entrenched
in quietude; local folk are sleeping in.
The roads of cobblestone, tail-twist, and weave;
centuries of frost and footfalls mark the place
where Medici royalty ruled and reaved.
Ghosts prowl unwilling to leave last night’s trace.
Shop doors open with a creak; vendors peek
outside and beam, the smell of coffee breezes.
Tea seeps near pitchers of cream on antiques;
the market opens early—just to tease.
On the trail of delights in Lourmarin,
baguette in hand, I search out a jam man.
Baguette in hand, I search out a jam man.
Up and up, I walk, eyes sharp, my head cocked,
to reach the clock for time here ticks unplanned,
past signs of local art, but the door’s locked.
I’m awake too early this Sunday morn.
Down I run: on a crooked trail, past a crèche,
in a chair of birch, on a seat well worn;
the manger awaits the birth of the blessed,
beneath a golden star; the story’s told.
But, I am off to a town called Bonnieux.
The road’s clear; we climb as the Alps unfold
bare vines, fruitless orchards fill the view.
There’s but a moment’s rest and so, I sigh;
Roussillon and its red cliffs are nearby.
Deborah Guzzi writes full time and travels for inspiration. Her third book The Hurricane is available through Prolific Press and at aleezadelta@aol.com. Her poetry appears in: Allegro Poetry Magazine and Artificium in the UK, Existere – Journal of Arts and Literature and Scarlet Leaf Review, Canada – Tincture, Australia – Cha: Asian Literary Review, China – Eunoia in Singapore – Vine Leaves Literary Journal – Greece, mgv2>publishing – France, and Ribbons: Tanka Society of America, pioneertown, Sounding Review, Bacopa Literary Review, Shooter, The Aurorean, Crack the Spine Literary Magazine, Liquid Imagination, Concis, The Tishman Review, Page & Spine & others in the USA. the-hurricanedg.com.
Kieran Egan lives in Vancouver, Canada. His poems have appeared or are forthcoming in Quills (Canada), Literary Review of Canada, Dalhousie Review (Canada), High Window (UK), Orbis (UK), Raintown Review (USA), Envoi (UK), Shot Glass Journal (USA), Qwerty (Canada), Snapdragon (USA), The Antigonish Review (Canada), Acumen (UK), Canadian Quarterly and The Interpreter’s House (U.K); also shortlisted for the John W. Bilsland Literary Award, 2017 and for the TLS Mick Imlah prize 2017.
Rachel is a London-based poet. She was previously a poetry editor for the Mays Anthology and a Young Producer with Poet in the City. Her poetry can also be found on the Poetry Society website, in the Dawntreader and Kindling journals, and unpredictably at live events around London.
Susan Richardson is living, writing and going blind in Hollywood. She was diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa in 2002 and much of her work focuses on her relationship to the world as a partially sighted woman. In addition to poetry, she writes a blog called “Stories from the Edge of Blindness”. Her work has been published in: Stepping Stones Magazine, Wildflower Muse, The Furious Gazelle, The Hungry Chimera, Sheila-Na-Gig, Chantarelle’s Notebook, Foxglove Journal, Literary Juice and Sick Lit Magazine, with pieces forthcoming in Amaryllis. She was also awarded the Sheila-Na-Gig Winter Poetry Prize.
Yorkshirewoman Louise Wilford is an English teacher and examiner. She has had around 60 poems and short stories published in magazines including Popshot, Pushing Out The Boat and Agenda, and has won or been shortlisted for several competitions. She is currently writing a children’s fantasy novel.
Ali Jones is a teacher and mother of three. Her work has appeared in Fire, Poetry Rivals, Strange Poetry, Ink Sweat and Tears, Snakeskin Poetry, Atrium,
