Guest Poem by Frances Sackett

Frances Sackett’s poetry has been published in numerous poetry magazines including ‘Poetry Review’, ‘Acumen’, ‘The North’, ‘Orbis’ & ‘The Dawntreader’. Also in anthologies on many subjects, most recently in ‘For the Silent’ (Indigo Dreams Press). Her collections include: The Hand Glass from Seren, Cradle of Bones from The High Window Press and in 2022, House with the Mansard Roof from Valley Press. She previously worked in a bank, a bookshop, and as a tutor for Manchester University’s ‘Courses for the Public’.

Free Spirit

Bordering the road,
but theatrical, the way
it looked like someone
had planted a garden
rich in wildness.

A rocky outcrop
with ragwort and willowherb,
vetch and wild thyme –
the hills beyond mantled with sun.

I scatter you here,
watch as a wisp of smoke
lifts along the ground,
wildness running
through these last ashes
as you curl into the landscape.