Nina Pasquali has given a fresh slant to the subject of heartbreak and written a poem with which many of us can identify. She makes her writing allegorical, surreal and strongly visual. It reminds me of a poem by Miroslav Holub. He also concertises the heat in ‘What the Heart is Like’. Nina portrays the broken heart wandering through bleak countryside. I particularly liked the dull atmosphere she creates where something positive - the rising sun - only serves to heighten the pain the sufferer experiences.
MONIZA ALVI
Moniza Alvi, this term’s guest poet, was born in Pakistan and brought up in Hertfordshire. She has published two collections, “The Country at My Shoulder” and “A Bowl of Warm Air”.
A Broken Heart
A broken heart wanders Through the bleak countryside Love pours out through a crack, Highlighted by the rising sun.
It continues to drip emotion until Under the gate lies a slippery puddle, A puddle of frozen feelings.
The crack widens.
But you cannot mend it.
Not with sticky tape or super glue, Or even cement.
Not with care or soothing words.
All the songs in the world can’t mend a broken heart.
The only one who can mend your heart Is the person who broke it.
NINA PASQUALI
Nina Pasquali, aged 12, receives “Why is the Sky?” edited by John Agard (Faber). Submitted by Mary McCrae of James Allen’s Girls’ School, London, who receives a set of Poetry Society posters with teacher’s notes. Please send students’ poems to Friday’s Young Poet at The TES, Admiral House, 66-68 East Smithfield, London E1 9XY