A Tentful of Verse

By Steve Whitmill

A collection of poetry ranging from deep and emotional to humourous and silly. You might find yourself in some of these. This is the second book in a trilogy of three. The first was ‘a caravan of poetry’ and the third will be ‘a lodgeful of verse’.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse UK
• Release date: Dec 28, 2021
• ISBN: 9781665595001

Steve Whitmill

Steve Whitmill has been a psychiatric nurse and geographer, and is a tutor and father. His inspirations come from personal love and loss, places he has visited and his appreciation of a wealth of literature and poetry; his influences include Spike Milligan, Imtiaz Dharker, Michael Rosen, and Allan Ahlberg. ‘A Tentful of Verse’ is the second part of a trilogy which includes ‘A Caravan of Poetry’; the final poetry book ‘A Lodgeful of Words’ will follow soon. He is currently writing a book on the Victorian Asylums, whose influence might be recognised in some of his work. Steve is married and lives in Northampton.

Book preview

A Lock of Hair

Preserved at 5 and 15 years

Sealed in an envelope.... just in case.

The essence of my love and the proof of the meaning of my

life

A real part of someone so special. So real

Should tragedy strike and I be torn apart

I will know that I have him here still.

Should I descend into madness or infirmity

I know he can be here with me

Taken and preserved

Containing the laughs and love of

a father and son

Dark strands of life, of love and friendship

Long after I am scattered and a memory,

a lock of his hair will release him again.

Science, his love, will come to his rescue, and mine

He will relive our love and somewhere, I will smile

September 2021

For Zak

Strange Noises in the Night

On an infiltrating, tropical hot night

Sometimes you hear noises that give you a fright

Unexplained and hidden, you see

Perhaps down the side of a shed or hidden

behind a tree

A scurrying or dragging, perhaps leaving a trail

Or even worse, something rattling a rail.

A stalling plane engine and a flashing light

One dashes to the window, but there’s nothing in sight

But even though the source is never known

Your fear has grown.

An owl shrieks and a cough is heard

But never an explanation, not a word

September 2021

Northampton

The Ballerina

Such chance are rare, such chances are slim

Talent is not enough, you need to be thin

Glide like a Swan and bend like a branch

What happens if you’re