Festival Submissions Call – ‘Maytime’ by Sue Wallace-Shaddad
Festival Submissions Call
We are beyond excited to share with you our selected poets from our ‘Festival’ themed submissions call, ahead of our 2026 Launceston Poetry Festival.
Starting today, we’ll be featuring one poem each day, along with a spotlight on its author. Follow along, and don’t forget to book your tickets to the Launceston Poetry Festival to hear the selected poems read aloud by the poets.
by Sue Wallace-Shaddad
Bluebells, white three-cornered leek,
it’s Maytime in Cornish lanes,
verges washed clean by light rain
the day you bring him home.
Everything’s laundered, ready
to cosset delicate skin.
The hard edge of labour begins to fade
as you give yourself to this new person,
milk-full, eyes closed in sleepy surrender.
I say goodnight, baby-scent lingering
as I walk back to my cottage,
sky blushing pink on the horizon.
Poet Bio
Sue Wallace-Shaddad has three published pamphlets. Previously digital writer-in-residence for ‘The Maker’, she writes poetry reviews and runs workshops. Widely published, Sue’s poems are featured in the Broken Sleep anthology ‘The Drifted Stream’ honouring Charles Causley. Sue visits Cornwall regularly.
Instagram: @suewallaceshaddad