The Hope

In my hands, I’m holding

this unbearably heavy ball of hope. 

Watch me fold under its gravity. 

Come, help heft this globe

of hope for me, that I might rest

awhile, and replenish my strength.

Joshua Seigal

The Comedian

You’re about to go onstage

when she calls you up

to say her mum is sick. 

You’re about to go onstage

when you catch a glimpse of BBC News – 

Russia is going to test Article 5. 

You’re about to go onstage

when an urgent email from HMRC

hits your inbox. 

You’re about to go onstage

when you realise that everything

is so fragile, 

so insecure, so unsafe

that the only thing clasping the world together

is this moment – 

the faces that await you;

the lullabies

in their laughter.

Joshua Seigal

Poems Published in Fabulous New Football Anthology

I am delighted to announce that I have no less than ELEVEN poems published in a fabulous new poetry anthology of football poems: 

Here is a little sample, inspired (unfortunately) by the team I support. No prizes for guessing who they are!

Everyone, do go online a buy the book!!!

On Writing a Poem About Parenthood

How can I write

a poem about parenthood?

they ask, incredulous.

I have never been a parent.

I have never brought up children.

No, I have never been a parent, I reply. 

But I have been a child. 

Joshua Seigal

The Form

She told me to sign the form

but the name just wouldn’t come out. 

From the tip of my pen, my own name

simply refused to be written. I kept wondering

what the hell was wrong with me, asked

for more paper, tried again and again

but the letters wouldn’t form the correct structure.

I wrote JOHN instead of JOSHUA.

John is my dad’s name. My dad’s. Not mine.

She gave me new paper. Said I still had time. 

Joshua Seigal