Jenni Wyn Hyatt

West Hallam, Ilkeston, Derbyshire

 

Jenni Wyn Hyatt was born in Maesteg in 1942 but now lives in Derbyshire. A retired English teacher, she writes mostly in traditional forms and has had poems published in magazines including ‘The Lyric’ and the webzine ‘The Road not Taken’. Her subjects include nature, memories and human tragedy and she has published two collections, 'Perhaps One Day' (2017) and ‘Striped Scarves and Coal Dust’ (2019).

 

Poem completed 15th August 2020

 

Clapping for the NHS

 

At first I clapped until my hands were sore,

banged saucepan lids to thank the NHS,

but could not bear to do it any more -

when rising deaths brought nothing but distress.

 

I pictured an unruly entourage

lining a route - a foolish, ghoulish crowd

who cheered as a funeral cortege

passed slowly by along a lonely road.

 

A send-off long ago came into mind,

crowds waving, music playing, flowers thrown,

but cheers and flowers faded, music died

when so few soldier boys came safely home.

 

These modern warriors, too, who gave their lives

must be remembered and immortalised.