
Waiting Room is the new pamphlet from London-based poet and writer Poppy Cockburn.
Through interweaving references to the natural world, Waiting Room explores the emotional tension between human connections made, almost made and lost.
With bold lyricism and touches of dark humour, Waiting Room shines a light on what it means to connect with someone, and in doing so, redefines romance.
Waiting Room by Poppy Cockburn
PUBLISHED 26 SEPTEMBER 2021
Poetry pamphlet – 33 pages
Taken from Waiting Room
3 a.m. She heard my sobs from behind the screen Oh [insert my name] she held me in a candid hug we’re the same age she said looking at my notes. Together, we slowly processed through the strip-lit glow of the humming ward to a room, empty but for basins attached to the wall: Welcome to Siobhan’s Salon she quipped and I smiled weakly as she tilted my head back with meticulous care sluiced warm water through my blood-dusty hair rubbing in shampoo and conditioner, deftly unmeshing rusted knots, transforming them back to silky swathes, seaweed soft. I remember the water running red then clear again.
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haunted forest we cycled fast down streets paved with her name oblivious to what route we were on I followed blindly eventually we arrived at a clearing in the woods where the sun and leaf shadows made the light dance and I tried to take your hands but your wrists were limp and non-compliant and I knew you'd been there before it was like a gauze had been cast over us neither you nor I could breathe or speak silenced by the presence of someone else it was as though I could see your memories a vapour rising through the trees finally you returned to Earth and turning slowly to me asked why are you crying?