'For Walls' by Polly Stretton
Pardon those seeking refuge, as they are without blame,
you cannot know their history and they must have a home.
Let them return and return to their place of safety,
stay with the door closed on the world outside
wrapped in warm arms where everything looks right,
everything smells right and they are sheltered by bricks and mortar,
secure, connected, where lasting memories are made,
big laughs, biggest smiles, most love.
The walls of home shape mood, shape outlook on life
and pardon those seeking refuge, as they are without blame.
you cannot know their history and they must have a home.
Let them return and return to their place of safety,
stay with the door closed on the world outside
wrapped in warm arms where everything looks right,
everything smells right and they are sheltered by bricks and mortar,
secure, connected, where lasting memories are made,
big laughs, biggest smiles, most love.
The walls of home shape mood, shape outlook on life
and pardon those seeking refuge, as they are without blame.
Polly Stretton organises the alternative genre spoken word event 42Worcester and is the Chair of the Open University Poetry Society. Her first collection of poetry, Girl’s Got Rhythm was reprinted by Black Pear Press (2016), who also published her series of poems in a pamphlet, Chatterton, about tragic 18th century poet Thomas Chatterton (2014). More recently, Polly’s collated WWI anthologies and a beautiful poetry anthology about flowers with Charley Barnes ‘Pressed Flowers’. Polly's next poetry collection 'The Alchemy of 42' will be published in August 2020. She makes a living as a Quality Consultant in education, drinks much tea, and loves walking her two little dogs.
You can find more of Polly's work at her personal website, available here.
You can find more of Polly's work at her personal website, available here.