Blog

20th June, 2025

Friday Poem – ‘Love is lonelier than solitude’

Close up photo of bluebells in a wood.

In honour of the 22 June being Gwen John’s birthday, this week’s Friday Poem is ‘Love is lonelier than solitude’ by Sue Hubbard from her collection God’s Little Artist.

Love is lonelier than solitude
She thinks of him all the time, an anchorite in her quiet cell
waiting for his booted step on the stair,
reluctant to go out in case he comes. All is clean and polished. Her hair washed,
bluebells in a jar on the mantle,
a bow around Tiger’s neck.
He complains she gives him headaches,
interferes with his work.
Then when the light begins to fade she buttons up her shift, accompanies him
to the station to board the train for Meudon
where Rose is picking peas
in the evening garden. Rose will feed him,
wash his clothes, but these drawings
they make together are their children. These charcoal smears, her puckered skin.
This.They will always have this.