at night she slips out of her stone dress
feels stars rise to the surface
of her skin spangled
out of the heart
traces running under her nerve
behind her ears
burrowing down in the dusky woods
beneath her hair dark hinterlands
configured in names like ash or willow
trees of long slim leaves
like rowan - rowan for faithfulness
longevity and sleep, buds and berries
night’s brightness a forest that shines
Lesley Sharpe teaches literature and creative writing, and enjoys living by the river which is always changing. Her poems, reviews and essays have appeared in several journals and anthologies, most recently Aesthetica, Tears in the Fence and The Alchemy Spoon, Finished Creatures and Spelt. Her poems have also been short/long-listed, including for The London Magazine, Rialto, Fish, Paper Swans Pamphlet, Primers, Cinnamon Debut Collection, Live Canon and Bridport Prizes.
Amethyst Review 