After a hiatus we’re returning to the #IndiePoetryPlease competition on Instagram.

And September's winner is Mary Walsh @marelwa60, for her poem “Station Lane”.

Congratulations to Mary!

Her poem wins her a copy of Creative Self-Publishing and of my most recent poetry book, Long Light.

And “Station Lane” will be a finalist for the Indie Poetry Please contest, 2025. The winner of the poem of the year will receive a cash prize of £500.

And here is the prizewinning poem “Station Lane”.

 

Station Lane
 
Between the Thai massage parlour
and the nail bar, sits a betting shop
Cigarette butts of the disappointed
Lie in the gutter along with dreams of wealth
and the last horse home.
 
A can of vitamin supplement drink
leans against a lamppost
emptied by a wannabe health fan
with great nails
and unknotted shoulders.
 
Trains pull in and put of the station
Spewing weary workers up and down the stairs
into or out of the world of contradictions
some carrying their private vice
of health, beauty and betting.
 
The lights show red
The late ones cross in hoards
To the kebab shop
Shish or Doner
and the threat of salad after beer.