'My Deepest Fears' and 'A Winter's Night'

Two more poems now from the entries to the Senior Poetry Prize. Hal Downer receives an English Department book-token for his portfolio, which includes these two poems.


My Deepest Fears

I lie awake,
Tossing, turning in my bed.
It’s dark and quiet.
The night is so silent
Nothing can be heard.
I walk over to the window
And glance across the city.
Each light means something -
Someone lying awake like me
Just pondering,
Waiting for the final call
From the hospital
Where their loved one is,
Upset because they had
Yet another argument
And he left in a storm,
And those like me.
Sweet dreams to all of those
Like me.
You are amazing:
Hold on.


A Winter’s Night

Late at night, the house is asleep.
Not much can be heard,
Except for rattling noises, and the crackling fire.
Except for that, it’s quiet.

Except for that, it’s quiet.
Now is my time, nobody else’s.
There are only two things in use,
The centre light and my wine glass.

The centre light and my wine glass,
Sitting on the oak chest,
The centre of the room bright, the rest dark.
The Aga rumbles slightly.

The Aga rumbles slightly,
A breeze passes through, I shiver.
I walk upstairs,
I walk into my room, into the warm darkness.

I walk into my room, into the warm darkness.
I lie down on my bed.
She breathes lightly, I can feel her warmth.
She is sleeping softly.

She is sleeping softly.
I can see the approaching light.
Darkness is fading.
Night fights, day fights back.

Night fights, day fights back.
Dreaming in the darkness,
The windows rattle, the wind howls.
Late at night, the house is asleep.

Not much can be heard,
Not much can be heard.