National Poetry Day 6 October

Pushing forty


Just before winter
we see the trees show
their true colours:
the mad yellow of chestnuts
two maples like blood sisters
the orange beech
braver than lipstick

Pushing forty, we vow
that when the time comes
rather than wither
ladylike and white
we will henna our hair
like Colette, we too
will be gold and red
and go out


Alison Fell

From Dreams, like heretics: new and selected poems
Serpent's Tail, 1997