Entry from Jacqui Collier
A Valentine’s poetry competition for lovers of history
A poll will run from 4–12 February to choose the winner, who will be announced on Valentine’s Day.
Wilfred, 1893-1918 or How I spent years sobbing over a dead poet
Falling in love with unsuitable men?
A hazard for teenagers, both now and back then
At fourteen, I fell for an army man’s eyes
Was heartbroken to read of his untimely demise
Killed in Action, in France, like so many others
He won the MC for leading his brothers
But, like news of his death, this reached home too late
‘Posthumous citation’, recognised by the state
“For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty” it read
Not a great consolation to hear, when he’s dead
Twenty-five is no age, in war or in peacetime
But he left us a legacy, in full or in half rhyme*
Dulce et Decorum Est, it is sweet and fitting to die
Futility and Exposure, Mental Cases – but I,
I fell for Maundy Thursday, the saddest of lines
Where he explains how the silver cross shines
In the server’s hands; to men it’s the symbol
Of faith; to the children a bright doll
The women mourn Christ – but Wilfred will say
That he kisses the boy – oh my, he was gay!
Never mind the age gap – what’s a mere 80 years?
If I could time-travel, I’d still be in tears
Because it isn’t just death that keeps passion unripe
It’s the fact that I’m so definitely not his type
Unsuitable men, like I said at the start
They’ll write beautiful poems, and break your young heart.
Jacqui Collier
*Writing these couplets in half-rhyme would be cool
But it’s surprisingly hard for me; so I curl
My toes up in chagrin at this awfully cruel
Failure at mimicking my hero’s style.
To celebrate Valentine’s Day, we’re delighted to announce a brand new writing competition created especially for fans of Jodi Taylor.
This time, we’re inviting you to put pen to paper and compose a Valentine’s Day poem addressed to a famous person from history. The poem can be romantic, witty, heartfelt or mischievous, but it must include rhyming couplets. Submissions close on Saturday, 31st January, after which all entries will be published on Jodi's social media for readers to enjoy. The winner will be chosen through a public poll held between 1st and 13th February, and announced on 14th February. As a lasting keepsake, the winner will receive a beautifully framed copy of their poem.
CLICK HERE to submit your edited and formatted entry in Word document form.
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To clarify for those unfamiliar with the figure I'm addressing, he is Wilfred Owen, war poet, and this is 100% a true story.
I fell HARD for Wilfred Owen as a teenager (late 1980s). He is probably still my favourite 20th century poet, and I wrote quite a lot about him for my BA and MA, but the pre-GCSE years when I was totally in love with him are still there in my heart. Other teenaged girls around me were just as madly in love with George Michael, so I don't think falling for a [then-closeted] gay man is an unusual experience. Slightly less common for him to be a *long-dead* gay man, admittedly. But why let mortality get in the way of a teenage crush?
(I strongly recommend his poetry to everyone. I haven't done him justice here at all.)