Alfie

How shall he live
when breathing isn’t enough?

When the curl of his cheek
is apple-blush and beautiful,
his hair brown and lustrous,
his features perfectly formed.

When he wears red and blue p.j.’s,
looks as though he’ll wake
any moment, rub his eyes,
gaze up at his mum and smile.

When his lips turn blue
and she pours her own breath
into him, mouth on mouth
though breathing isn’t enough.

His brain is mostly water
that won’t replenish, water
isn’t enough, water isn’t life,
life isn’t the way it seems.

Alfie is dying
breath by breath.

© Sheila Jacob

Alfie Evans parents appeal against Italy travel ban ruling

Sheila Jacob was born and raised in Birmingham and lives on the North Wales border with her husband. She's had poems published in various U.K.magazines and webzines.

Step into these shoes

Seven thousand shoes

spangled by winter sun

on the lawn of Capitol Hill.

Pink shoes,blue shoes, brown

and multi-coloured shoes.

Striped shoes,patterned shoes, plain

and glittery-purple shoes.

Green shoes,red shoes, black

leather shoes with ankle straps

and silver buckles.

Girls' shoes,boys'shoes,small

and medium shoes.

Size ten and a half shoes

Daniel Mauser wore the day

he was shot at Columbine

nineteen years ago.

Scuffed,comfy,off-white shoes,

laces untied,fabric stretched

to the width of his toes.

His Dad brought them to Washington,

wears Daniel's second pair-

a perfect match

for his own feet.

Tough, skateboarding shoes.

Gray and black Vans

Daniel won't be needing.

© Sheila Jacob

Activists place thousands of shoes on Capitol lawn in gun death memorial

Sheila Jacob was born and raised in Birmingham and lives on the North Wales border with her Husband. She's had poems published in various U.K.magazines and webzines

The undertaker at seventeen

She's learning to tend

the dead,unafraid

of their bloodless skin

restless as silk

beneath her touch.

She can't warm them

back to life

with a flame held close

against the wick

of their inner being

but blushes colour

into arctic cheeks,

smooths crimson polish

over women's nails:

waits for it to dry,

is careful not to smudge

though these fingers

won't flex again,

reach for a diamond ring,

a matching bracelet.

© Sheila Jacob

The Youngertakers

Sheila Jacob was born and raised in Birmingham and lives on the North Wales border with her Husband. She's had poems published in various U.K.magazines and webzines

Papering over the cracks

I scroll down MSN,

weep for the thirteen

blanked-out faces

of thirteen children

tortured by their parents.

I can't stomach much detail,

need sugar-coated news.

Prince William's £180.00 haircut.

Boris's bridge over the Channel.

Harry and Meghan wowing Wales.

I stay with Meghan who sparkles,

shares my daughter's name;

read about her fashion footwear,

statement earrings, green handbag.

Learn where her jeans were made,

what she said when she ate

her first welsh cake.

Yet even here, in my comfort zone,

an evil wind

wheezes through the cracks,

splutters images of girls

in matching tartan dresses-

puff sleeved, satin sashed-

the boys in dark suits,

white shirts, red ties.

Thirteen children

with blanked-out faces,

wiped out smiles.

© Sheila Jacob

How can parents torture their children?

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle visit Cardiff for royal visit

Sheila Jacob was born and raised in Birmingham and lives on the North Wales border with her Husband. She's had poems published in various U.K.magazines and webzines