Poem for Ralph

Tara Buchanan has written a heart felt poem remembering Ralph Millward, the local Big Issue seller who was murdered in Westbourne a year ago.

Ralph had been a well-liked Big Issue vendor for over eight years. He is remembered as an intelligent man; a voracious reader of philosophy and science fiction.

Book Worm

Sorry,
we didn't hear.
We were too warm to notice.
Your hair covered their assault
and the spleen doesn't clot,
just quietly
trickles
away.

Everybody's and nobody's friend,
our book worm.
I emptied my purse into your palm
one Christmas.
It felt good and paid for tobacco.

Perhaps reform will polish up,
repackage them?
In twenty they may feel it.

One day you're married, kids, a job;
slide the door,
you're sleeping in bushes,
next in line for a kicking.

Three young defendants are currently giving evidence at Winchester Crown Court. They said all of them had launched into the alleged attack, aiming kicks at Mr Millward when he turned down their request for tobacco. The teenagers, who cannot be named for legal reasons, all deny murder.