turns my brain cold.

He cackles. Again.

* The crash smashes

into memory: she lurches,

splintered glass;

redness staining her white shirt.

* Wreckage rests

sootily by the A56.

It should have been him.

* My feet leave my bed.

I’m dressed in that top,

those trousers he said

turned him on.

* My heels scrape the pavement.

Her face peers

from the window:

pale cheeks, pleading eyes,

a straight line where her smile used to be.

“Do it,” she whispers.

* Cold metal against my thigh.

I keep walking: left, right.

The stars shut their eyes.

* Through the door, air is stale.

Fingerprints on the bar.

He’s there, his fat lips quivering.

He sups another pint.

* I swim through voices toward him,

slide my body against his.

Vodka burns my throat and we leave

amongt the knowing smiles.

Nudge, nudge, wink, wink.

Sam Stockdale, 17, St Aidan’sSt John Fisher associated sixth form, Harrogate

This is a wonderfully taut narrative, which chillingly evokes past, present and future events. Every word earns its keep and the reader is able to piece together the whole story from its fragments. Enough - the poem says it all!

Graham Mort

Sam Stockdale receives Emergency Kit, edited by Jo Shapcott and Matthew Sweeney (Faber). Graham Mort, a freelance writer and tutor, is TES guest poet for this term. His latest collection, Circular Breathing (Dangaroo Press), is a Poetry Book Society recommendation. Please send poems, no longer than 20 lines, to Friday magazine, The TES , Admiral House, 66-68 East Smithfield, London E1W 1BX. Include the poet’s name, age and address, the name of the submitting teacher and the school address. Or email: friday@tes.co.uk