Tom Kelly

is a Jarrow-born poet and playwright who now lives up the Tyne at Blaydon. He has published five poetry collections and these poems are taken from his new collection, The Time Office: New and Selected Poems, which was launched by Red Squirrel Press on February 6th 2012 at the Lit & Phil Library, Newcastle upon Tyne.

See the recusant for more information:
http://www.therecusant.org.uk/#/the-robin-hood-book/4563100507

In the dark hours

wind hollows skin
tight as a drum,
this is the time
when we hold on.

In the dark hours
watch figures climb,
fill fingernails,
scratch against doors
closed long ago.

Tom Kelly

Wondered

He shook hands with everybody,
kissed the office girl blushing to the roots
of her peroxide hair. Had a fixed smile,
waved too readily for comfort.

“I’ve always worked,” he said. “I know,” I didn’t say.
Platitudes came easily.

We got back to tidying desks,
looking earnestly at the clock, checking watches:
I wondered what he would do.

Tom Kelly