Stephen Bone- Two Poems

Boyhood of Senesino

Tremulous as a pot bound hare -

never before so close to wealth and title -

I poured into pomade scented air

the gift God had graced me.

Pierced the spangled matrons' granite hearts,

drew from grown men a drip

of tears with songs of ache and loss;

then with a seamless switch slipped

into laughing coloratura, skylark notes

that threatened the Murano bowls,

panels of quicksilvered glass. Even my father,

face a map of hardship, swagged a smile,

weight of a heavy purse already in his hand,

eyes glinting like polished knives.

Note: Senesino ( 1686 - 1758 ) was a celebrated Italian castrato

Keepsake

They must have waited days

for the photographer to complete

his alchemy

of mercury vapour and salt,

for the errand boy's knock,

the black ribboned box.

The the shock

of lifting the lid on themselves,

gaunt and grave in dark clothes;

their lace gowned child,

white as a Meissen doll,

nestled between

with her loose rag curls,

painted rosebud mouth, eyes

like blown bulbs.

Note: memento mori photography was popular in the Victorian era

as a way of remembering the deceased.

Boyhood of Senesino was first published in Londongrip Poetry 2015.

Stephen Bone has been published in various journals in the U.K and U.S. First collection In The Cinema, published Playdead Press 2014. Available from Amazon and www.playdeadpress.com