Victoria Pugh
Victoria writes about landscapes and everyday objects in surreal and unusual ways - to examine what it is to be
human. She was born in London, has lived in Wales and the Lake District, and now lives in Reading. Her first collection,
Mrs Marvellous, has been published by Two Rivers Press. She teaches literacy and learning skills at Thames
Valley University.
“Victoria writes witty, delicate poems capable of real insight and suprise. Hers is a distinctive new voice.” Michael Symmons Roberts
Face
We are sitting, trying to touch, but not touching.
I want to say to you,
that your head seems perched on your neck.
Your chin looks strange -
your face looks like it could slip right off.
That you could wear your face like a badge,
on your jacket. You could work it with strings
and make it say you were happy.
All the time the real you would sit behind,
saying nothing, while your mouthpiece talked.
And the difference between the real you,
and your mouthpiece, would be the distance –
exactly equal to the distance between you and me.
When the world speaks to you or I speak to you,
you take no notice. I will take off your badge
and turn it around, so it is facing you.
And this time, you will hear it.
in Mrs Marvellous (Two Rivers Press)
© Victoria Pugh