Jean Stevens
Jean Stevens’ poetry, as well as appearing in her two collections, Performances and Undressing in Winter, has been published in anthologies, magazines and newspapers and read on BBC Radio 3 and Radio 4. Her latest book Flying to the Moon contains prose and poetry.
She is also a professional actor and dramatist whose plays have been performed at West Yorkshire Playhouse, Derby Playhouse, Leeds Grand Theatre, Edinburgh Festival, London Festival, and other venues.
An Avenue of Silver Mercs
I walked the avenue of affluent houses,
manicured gardens, spotless paths,
and Merc after Merc, neatly parked.
These people were sophisticated, smart,
these people had got it sussed.
The opposite of me. I’m crumbly, messy, uncontained.
I felt those svelte and opulent cars
silently whisper messages of contempt.
It was like when you trail along the winter streets
and house after house reverberates with light,
each room a stage-set of layered velvets,
deep in burgundies and gold. Safe and sorted.
And you’re outside. Wet, dishevelled, and falling apart.
A lone dog barked. A door slammed.
Our worlds became one:
the place where everyone strives
to hold back the creeping cold.
You in your silver cars
and me in my Oxfam scarf.
The Secret Motorbike Jean Stevens
Before they crashed
on the edge of Stadil Fjord
a Lancaster Bomber’s homebound crew
swerved their burning plane away
from sleeping villagers and so
saved many lives but not their own.
Eight bodies still lie caught
in quicksand inside the fuselage.
Before he volunteered
aged seventeen my cousin Bert
rocketed round an English town
revving his secret motorbike
but I only heard of his glorious escapades
long after he flew in flames across
that Danish village to a dark destination
in the heart of the machinery he loved.
To contact Jean
Jean Stevens’ poetry, as well as appearing in her two collections, Performances and Undressing in Winter, has been published in anthologies, magazines and newspapers and read on BBC Radio 3 and Radio 4. Her latest book Flying to the Moon contains prose and poetry.
She is also a professional actor and dramatist whose plays have been performed at West Yorkshire Playhouse, Derby Playhouse, Leeds Grand Theatre, Edinburgh Festival, London Festival, and other venues.
An Avenue of Silver Mercs
I walked the avenue of affluent houses,
manicured gardens, spotless paths,
and Merc after Merc, neatly parked.
These people were sophisticated, smart,
these people had got it sussed.
The opposite of me. I’m crumbly, messy, uncontained.
I felt those svelte and opulent cars
silently whisper messages of contempt.
It was like when you trail along the winter streets
and house after house reverberates with light,
each room a stage-set of layered velvets,
deep in burgundies and gold. Safe and sorted.
And you’re outside. Wet, dishevelled, and falling apart.
A lone dog barked. A door slammed.
Our worlds became one:
the place where everyone strives
to hold back the creeping cold.
You in your silver cars
and me in my Oxfam scarf.
The Secret Motorbike Jean Stevens
Before they crashed
on the edge of Stadil Fjord
a Lancaster Bomber’s homebound crew
swerved their burning plane away
from sleeping villagers and so
saved many lives but not their own.
Eight bodies still lie caught
in quicksand inside the fuselage.
Before he volunteered
aged seventeen my cousin Bert
rocketed round an English town
revving his secret motorbike
but I only heard of his glorious escapades
long after he flew in flames across
that Danish village to a dark destination
in the heart of the machinery he loved.
To contact Jean
