The Light in the Passage: a poem by Carol Stephens

As part of Heart of Conflict, our work on World War One in Cornwall, we ran a poetry workshop at the Royal Cornwall Museum. This is a poem inspired by Emily Lidgey of Redruth, Cornwall,  and her son Percy Lidgey, who featured in our exhibition at the Museum. Percy fought in WW1 and it was ‘accepted’ by the War Office, that he had died in Flanders Fields.  For  many years afterwards, Emily refused to believe that he had died  – and for many years kept a key in the door and a light on in the passage in case he returned.

 

The Light in the Passage.

 

Percy, centre of my heart.

Strong, bold, passionate.

How I long to hear his voice call

“Mother, I’m back.”

Hear his strong footfall on the stairs,

feel the weight of his hand in mine.

 

I know he’ll return. I’d send him the key if I knew where he was.

So I leave the light on in the passage and the key in the door.

 

Carol Stephens attended a poetry workshop at Heart of Conflict, our exhibition at the Royal Cornwall Museum on Cornwall during World War One. The workshop was led by local author Jenny Alexander.