The Family Tree

No longer their daughter, Daphne
Draws strength from her deep roots,
The fluid knowledge of her family.
Her branches are wreathed in flowers.

Daphne Turns Hunter

With longbow brows
Of laurel boughs
Her wooden eyes fire
Arrows at Apollo.

James Holden is a writer working across the critical-creative divide. He is a specialist in British and European culture from the birth of Chopin in 1810 to the death of Monet in 1926. His published work includes In Search of Vinteuil: Music, Literature and a Self Regained (Sussex Academic Press, 2010). James also writes experimental prose and poetry.

His website is www.culturalwriter.co.uk

He tweets as @CulturalWriter