Winter Landscape - Joan Willard

A panorama crisply white,
that sparkles under clouds of grey,
with coloured accents sharp and bright,

like Breughel’s painting, dark on light,
rich brown, deep green, clear red inlay,
a panorama crisply white.

Smooth naked limbs of trees delight
the birds. They trill a roundelay
with coloured accents. Sharp and bright

they watch soft snowflakes’ gentle flight.
Those dancing star shapes help array
a panorama crisply white,

where cats with velvet paws alight
on frozen roofs, their eyes slate grey
with coloured accents sharp and bright.

A halo-ed silver moon at night
lights up the landscape clear as day,
a panorama crisply white
with coloured accents sharp and bright.

Joan Willard

The Last Hours of Edith Cavell - Joan Willard

Edith Louisa Cavell was a British nurse who helped save the lives of both Allied and German soldiers during the Great War. Famously she helped around 200 Allied soldiers escape from German-occupied Belgium. This action resulted in her arrest and court martial for treason. She was executed by German firing squad on 12 October 1915.

"Patriotism is not enough. I must have no hatred or bitterness towards anyone." Edith Cavell

The Last Hours of Edith Cavell - Joan Willard

I have only a short time left.
Tomorrow morning my life will end.
At least I know how I shall die,
no long drawn-out painful illness,
no heart attack, senile dementia.
My end will be quick,
a hail of bullets
at 2 a.m.
2 a.m., 12th October 1915.
I am not afraid,
I have seen death so often,
it is not strange
or fearful to me.

I have written my farewell letters,
the one to my mother
the most difficult –
she is losing a child.

The Anglican priest visited me.
I told him what I would miss –
nursing the sick,
helping allied soldiers to escape,
the old vicarage,
two beautiful dogs,
Norfolk, where the sun never sets
over the sea.

To my dear family
I say a fond goodbye.
Please don’t weep for me,
my life has been wonderful.

I am ready to go.

Joan Willard

Sonnet to a Guernsey Cow seen on L’Ancresse Common - Joan Willard

O, gorgeous beast, with well-horned handsome head,
Small dainty hooves, straight back and slender tail.
Your colour, shades of amber, brown and red,
Which blends to subtle creamy fawn, quite pale
Around soft eyes; each one a dreamy pool,
Their sweet expression mirrors inward calm.
Your bearing, well-bred, quiet, poised, is cool
And tranquil. Grazing, causing no man harm,
You pace around on your allotted pitch,
Close to the golden, flowering, spiky gorse,
Until the farmer saunters to unhitch
The tether that confines you to this course.
Your noble forebears journeyed here from France,
Brought by the monks, our island to enhance.

Joan Willard

St Peter Port Promenade - Joan Willard

Let us stroll
on a winter’s night,
holding hands.

Above the town
a gold-streaked sky
silhouettes
the naked trees.
On the front
bright festive strands
warm the frosty
ice-spiked breeze.
Lapping waters
shimmer and dance
as the lighted
ferry leaves.
Far away a choir sings.

Let us stroll
on a winter’s night,
holding hands.

Joan Willard

“I’m Coco” - Joan Willard

Big Top

Excited children fill the gaudy tent
that smells of grease-paint, horses, sawdust, sweat.
Bright strident music ushers to the ring
acrobats
in coloured, spangled tights,
cossacks, tumblers,
jugglers,
arial acts.
I’m there as well, with high-arched brows,
huge whitened eyes,
inverted horseshoe mouth,
red hair that points north, south, east and west.
I’m famous for the way I dress – white gloves,
old baggy pants, shapeless tartan coat,
large ribboned medals pinned across my chest.
I clown, fall, bow and make the audience laugh.
I’m Coco.

Cat Walk

The chairs have gilded feet, the champagne flows
in this salon,
where well-heeled vendees watch a spotlight beam
on reed-slim models,
who glide and pose to show
this season’s dresses, suits and casual wear.
The audience is entranced.
And when the show is done, I enter, dressed
in stunning black, gilt chains, faux pearls,
white gloves,
enveloped in a veil of ‘Numero Cinq’.
I hear applause. Bravo! I bow, I smile,
they love me for my flair, my chic, my style.
I’m Coco.

Joan Willard