Defenestration

Cushioning the Blow

By David Gwilym Anthony

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We thought it best to leave the cat with Ted
along with Grandma, when we went away.
No sooner were we home from holiday
than, bluntly, he announced the cat was dead.

“Listen!” I said, “Bad news is better told
obliquely—like this: ‘Bess went climbing on
the roof, and fell. Her legs and back were gone.
They tried to save her but she was too old.’ ”

Ted—who’s direct but not a thoughtless man—
was chastened (so he said) and mortified.
“Don’t worry, Cousin Edward,” I replied.
“We all drop clangers. By the way, how’s Gran?”

“Not great,” he said, “In fact, to tell the truth,
last night she went out climbing on the roof……”

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David Gwilym Anthony was born in Ffestiniog, North Wales, and soon afterward his family moved to Hull. He was educated at Hull Grammar School and St. Catherine's College, Oxford, where he studied modern history. His life has been "spent in the near aura of famous poets: Dafydd ap Gwilym, greatest of the Welsh bards; Philip Larkin, one-time librarian of Hull University; Andrew Marvell, who also went to Hull Grammar School." He now lives in Stoke Poges, Buckinghamshire, a stone's throw from the churchyard where Thomas Gray is buried. He works in London, in financial services. His poems have appeared in various magazines, e-zines and anthologies in the UK, USA and Japan. His first book, Words to Say, was published in 2002. Words to Say is available from Amazon. His second book, Talking to Lord Newborough, is now available from Barnes & Noble and Amazon. It is also available direct from the publisher, Alsop Review Press.