Little Song by Deborah Tyler-Bennett

For Lydia Dwight (Daughter of John Dwight, 
Founder of the Fulham Pottery)
Died 1674,  Aged Six

Dead, Lydia Dwight, Fulham’s salt daughter -
Shining in Stoneware, blitzed bells are pealing,
toll her hands’ herbal, milky glaze sealing
her cosseted form.  All but breezed laughter
is captured, cerements, cooling water.

Dead, Lydia Dwight, child beyond feeling,
domed Snow White, rippled light’s stealing
over baby fists, dappling blooms brought her,
careful carved, hand held for posterity –

Anemones wilt, Tulips, Ox-eyes,
Rosemary, Lilies, bleached Love-lies-bleeding.
Lydia’s laced-tight, calm austerity
makes stilled clappers of city bells rise:

Hymning:  ‘Dead!  Fulham’s daughter’. 
Tongues pleading.


from her most recent collection, Revudeville, (King's England Press, 2011, £7.95)