mel

I write poetry.

[smeloncurls]

Brighton Marathon!

Marathon training hasn’t officially started yet, but the prep is in full swing and apparently that means spreadsheets, snacks, and a nutritionist who’s very patiently learning that I’m… a particular eater. 😅 I’ve also just bought tickets to the National Running Show 2026, which has absolutely nothing to do with the drummer from my favourite band being a guest speaker. Purely for research.…

[smeloncurls]

my body runs me

Exciting news! My new poetry collection my body runs me is now out and available to order: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0FBL9TP11 This collection explores the power of concrete poetry to reshape meaning – using form to reflect feeling and language to challenge expectations. To celebrate the release, I’ve signed myself up for next year’s Brighton Marathon: 26 poems for 26 miles (and a 0.2 that…

my body runs me

[smeloncurls]

directions

DoI know the pathRight or leftEventually i’ll have toChoose a directionTo takeI map each stepOut, i plan carefully but suddenlyNo one comesShhhh they’ve gone home now

[smeloncurls]

you wouldn't steal a cat

one young femaletuxedospends her timefollowing the humansplaying fetch andwagging her tailshe dreams of being a dog one ever so slightly older malegrey with white collar like a vicarspends his timehunting the landdestroying his toys andprotecting his garden from intruder catshe dreams of eating both bowls of food i wouldn’t steal a cat, i’ve got my hands full already

[smeloncurls]

make like a tree

i do questionthe number of timesi’ve consideredstopping writing i tell myselfyou’ve got no systemcompletely randomand can’t stick to a schedule but yeti’m the most organisedi’ve ever been i do asknumerous timeswhy are you so harshon yourself and i give the same replyeach timebecause i am and i want to be more positivei want to feel freeand perhaps like a treei can be stable and…

[smeloncurls]

again soon

time has moved slowlybut yet it’s as thoughthe hand on the clockis in a hurry one day turnedinto a weekbefore we knew itthe year was complete although you couldn’t join uswe will never forget youas time continues to passwe will meet again soon

[smeloncurls]

brunch

bubbling eggsrun in the legsunder the showernearly ready cherry smoothiehome and relax

[smeloncurls]

attached at the hip

she is my shadowher little pawspad along behind me if i turnto look at hershe pauseswaits for me if she gets distractedand i get a few steps aheadshe does a little gallopto catch me instead she never complainseven if dinnertimeis late, she’ll wait when i’m sadshe’s the first one thereeven though she has no wordsthose slow blinking eyessay all i need to know and although i’m sureshe thinks…

[smeloncurls]

and then it fell silent

i can’t tell youthe number of daysi’ve listened for your voiceunique tonesgentle laughterendless jokes i’ve waited for your gamesturning glasses upside downpretending to be drunkand dancing in the street but theni was walking yesi’d been for a walk arounda national trust placenow i found myself in a gallerywatching paintingsi mean really watchingbecause as i stood and lookedthe people in the…

[smeloncurls]

difference of opinion

i see the same body as youbut when it’s darkmy mind is highlightingevery imperfectioneach markbruise crease linethat needs correctingit’s showcasingall the crinkleswrinkles dimples and ii’m feeling heavyholding all the worry but you seethe same in light and darkyour eyes roll overcurves that amuse youdimples and pimplesdon’t bother you can we settle on a difference of opinionit’s…

[smeloncurls]

ant

AnotherNameTo forget

[smeloncurls]

uncle

i never thoughti’d sit and write a poemabout youfor you i never imaginedi’d be in this worldwithout you and i’m strugglingto find the wordsto fit a rhymeor metaphorwhen all i’ve thoughtfor the last 3 monthsis why are you not here anymore it happenedtoo fasttoo quicktoo crueli tore my hamstringand drove straight there but we were too latetime had struckyour final hour though you’ll never…

[smeloncurls]

cabin

do you ever wannago back to being a childa small girlbarely twelvelearning the way of the world do you ever wannago speak to that childthat young girljust a teenteach her the road you’ve been do you ever wannahold that childthat little girlso youngtell her it’s okay, it’s just begun do you ever wannatell her it will get betteryou’ll be okayyou’ll make ityou’ll be happywell go on thenbut you’d…

[smeloncurls]

i didn't know you felt that way

was i being unfairwishing you hereand holding your lifewas i being selfishkeeping you hereand holding your hand was he being hopefulawaiting your arrivaland holding his tearswas he feeling lostwithout you therethe last 20 odd years were you being honestreserving your placeand knowing there wasn’t another daywere you feeling finishedin this old worldand ready to move onnow your story has been…

[smeloncurls]

telescope

i objectto the mirrorholding the truth i curveto the opinionsholding anything but the truth zoom inzoom outpicture me far awayin better lighting change the lenson your telescopeand take your pretty picturepolish me with editingleave them with something they won’t remember

[smeloncurls]

(thanks)giving

i guess i should saythank youi’ve been told it’s politeand the right thing to dobuti guess you should saysorryi’ve told you it’s respectfuland the right thing to dobutwe’re still on different chaptersdifferent bookssharing different storiesgive me a pen and i’ll tell youwhat i remember

[smeloncurls]

an abundance of

i don’t knowmaybe it’sthe sun shininggolden lasersor swimming skiesthat made me think of springor the remainder of morning chillsblasted away by yellow afternoonsis it the lighter beginningsthe advanced eveningsthat bring usthe abundance of spring