Havana in your skirt that night

Thank you to James Martin for kindly entering the competition and sharing his poetry with us. James lives in Portsmouth and, as well as working in education, is a passionate musician and singer. We really appreciate his support with the Voices project.

SNT

Don’t let me be a jerk tonight, like
his ill-sped book I’m open to discussion.
In the back of dad there remains a motherload,
and having mined my childhood gold
I know I must, whether now or then
take a black Toyota to the second fold:
there is Danish piling up in St. Germain,
but the devil bought a book already sold.
So the consequence of light came when
the Rumba’s suicidal drummer hid
Havana in your skirt that night
and the door pulled shut set the clocks at ten,
and hearts on sleeves set the clocks at ten
and they’ll let me out before it brightens.

James Martin, Portsmouth

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