In a time of deep snow and automation,
Margaret bought herself a knitting machine
and all the colours of the eighties rainbow
adorned the throats of the women of Cranham.
Margaret bought herself a knitting machine
and serious mother-daughter discussions
adorned the throats of the women of Cranham
over which shade complemented your winter coat.
Serious mother-daughter discussions
consigning needles and patience to history
over which shade complemented your winter coat,
Margaret, charging not much more than the wool.
Consigning needles and patience to history,
death to hats and scarf ends,
Margaret, charging not much more than the wool,
Margaret, waiting to exchange at the school gate.
Death to hats and scarf ends
and all the colours of the eighties rainbow,
Margaret, waiting to exchange at the school gate
in a time of deep snow and automation.
© Lorraine Mariner
Picture 10280988, 1950s photograph, image copyright Mary Evans / Heinz Zinram Collection
Lorraine Mariner lives in London and works as an Assistant Librarian at the National Poetry Library, Southbank Centre. She has published two collections with Picador, Furniture (2009) and There Will Be No More Nonsense (2014). She has been shortlisted for the Forward Prize twice, for Best Single Poem and Best First Collection, and for the Seamus Heaney Centre Poetry Prize. Her most recent publication is the poetry chapbook Anchorage with Grey Suit Editions (2020).