Angele Ann Andrews is an Anglo-Maltese teacher of English and French living in Greater London. As a lover of nature photography, Andrews’ first book of verse was a pictorial photo-poem collection entitled ‘In Assembly and Other Poems.’ An educational publisher then distributed 35 of her poems for 11+ and 13+ exams. Shortly after, she was offered publication of an academic book : ‘An Assortment of Poetry Genres’, co-edited with Kehinde Badiru.
Sixty poems of Pain and Beauty’ was created in response to readers of ‘In Assembly and Other Poems’. The poet does not shy away from addressing social issues or environmental concerns, while simultaneously offering heartwarming and uplifting verses about the natural world. Here are sixty poems to inspire or challenge you in the vein of the one below, ‘Prague: winter beggars’:
Prague: winter beggars
Eclectic shops, river banks,
promenades.
You stop; you shop.
One shiny leather bag
calls your attention.
It glitters, entices.
You pause and see
it’s not unlike the city
you’re in.
On the outside, it gleams
but then wears thin
for those who never made it,
lost within the lining,
who might not be found
until it’s too late.
Yes, look inside your own bag.
Has it been neglected,
gathered all sorts,
suffering in silence
in the bottom of the heap?
Stained skin in the recess-
a tear in the deep?
Try turning it
inside out.
Look inside or if you have
been wise, wear it on your shoulder.
Patent leather, shining bright,
oblivious to the weather
marvellous to the touch,
it can do so much
to your spirit.
Upset? Take to the square.
Watch the world go by.
Smiles all around;
couples in wait
beside the gate.
Beside the coats, snug hats, warm hands,
who is it that I see?
One man on his knees.
Could he be begging?
His eyes plead
towards the sea of faces
flowing, glowing past,
wondering
how they will spend the
last few hours in a city made to last.
City of wonders- turn it inside out,
speak of Prague and wonder.
Angie Andrews ©2010
www.languagechoices.com
Poetry | Ages 11+
