Stephen Bone’s poem – Attic

Attic

The sturdy steamer trunks
scabbed with peeling labels.

The rusty rictus
of an upturned grate.

An abacus subtracting
beads onto the floor.

A blind doll. A flock
of damaged shuttlecocks.

A gramophone long retired,
Toscanini At The Met, still in place.

A Baby Belling.
A yellow beach ball

still limply holding
his father’s breath.

 

This poem first published in Smiths Knoll

 

His collection, In The Cinema is published by Playdead Press 2014, £7.99

Stephen Bone started writing poetry several years ago, encouraged by Alan Ross. His work has appeared in magazines including Seam, Smiths Knoll, The Interpreter’s House, The Rialto among others. He has worked in television, theatre and film.