By Eithne Cullen
Welcome to my Thoughtful Tuesday page for March. According to the old stories and sayings, it’s a month of so-called ‘madness’ – March hares and windy days. It’s also the month that marks the start of spring. So, the pieces I’m sharing reflect that feeling of change in nature, change in people. They also fit with our theme of Choices.
First up, a lovely, colourful spring poem from poet Adrian Buckner, which has much-loved spring flowers at its heart.
Yellow Family
Daffodils nod love over
the neat, perky children:
celandine, primrose, marsh
marigold, daisy heart.
And no worries over
the wilder kids –
dandelions doffing
their proletarian caps
on the glossy verge,
so free and tolerant
to pal up in a paving crack
under the forthysia
with the unloved,
all year groundsel.
© Adrian Buckner, 2025
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Like Adrian, I wrote a poem about those yellows in a spring flower bed. I was walking with a friend and we shared a moment.
In The Air
Cold doesn’t sting
air coming in from the river
fresh on our faces,
we see wallflowers
my dad loved them
so, you tell me did yours.
Pansies stare, faces
out of the border,
watching, watching.
Daffodils radiant yellow
crocuses open mouthed
reach towards the sun;
earth is rich and dark
bulbs pushing shoots
and Oh! The smell of
spring is in the air –
we trace it to a
large mahonia and
both lean in to catch
the scent, and Ah!
Spring is in the air.
© Eithne Cullen, 2025
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The next poem I’m sharing is from Clare Brown, who uses her poetry to talk about mental health and support for people who need it. There’s a strong feeling of choice here, choosing to show kindness and encouragement.
The Feeling You Left
It’s not what you did, it’s the feeling you left
You brought sunshine to someone who felt so bereft
It wasn’t until you appeared in their place
That they knew of the need to share your space
Kindness has a glow of its own
It says “I’m here, you are not alone “
“I’m quiet, I’m friendly I’m by your side and I care
I’m here if there’s something you want to share
And if right now, that’s too hard for you
Allow me hold your hand until you do “
© Clare Brown, 2026
As the poem suggests, kindness costs nothing.
For anyone who is feeling lost or alone, with no one to talk to, there’s free mental health support available 24/7 on your phone:
💙 Text Shout 24/7 to 85258 Shout UK 💚 Call the Samaritans 24/7 on 116 123
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It’s important to remember March is the month given to celebrating and empowering women, with International Women’s Day at its heart. So the next poem I’m sharing is a special one. On 14 March, Pen to Print is hosting an event to celebrate the pre-launch of Maiden, Mother, Crone: The Anthology. It’s collection of poems by and for women. Pen to Print invites us for an afternoon of poetry, story and shared voices to celebrate women through the timeless lenses of maidens, mothers and ‘crones.’ Our Editor, Madeleine White, is one of the Anthology’s Editors.
Co-editor and publisher, Mary Petiet, uses this poem to introduce the collection, with her commentary shedding light on the spirit of the book.
Fire-Skry
The old flames of the burning times
are the new friends of these times,
warming us, joining us, connecting the sacred circle
under the full moon’s knowing light
as we remember we remake
the old ways for the new world,
we skry the burning embers of connecting fire-power,
dragon-shaped, flame-spewing, smoke-signaling
emissary of the old goddess.
© Mary Petiet, 2026
Mary says:
I have a collection of poems I didn’t dare include in my published book. Fire-Skry is one of them. It tells a true story: I did see a dragon shape in the embers of a fire shared by a circle of women on a wild, silent beach.
Years later, Fire-Skry captures the same ancient energy moving through this anthology: the rising current made new again, affirming life instead of denying it. It whispers the full circle of maiden mother crone into being, seeking its manifestation in the broken, fractured world we face today.
But when was the world not broken, when were we not called upon to manifest something better and to join in community to find a better way – to have the courage of conviction to express it, even to publish it? It’s time to share your poems, your dreams of something better.
It’s time to connect with others and remake the old into something new we can move forward in our communities. That’s the spirit of this book, and our job as editors has been to give it birth, to work as mothers and send it into the world, to have the courage to share the poems that once seemed too much and have now become imperative.
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My final piece is a short story which deals with making choices in a tricky situation. Pen to Print writer, Afsana Elanko, reminds us that making the right choice can be life-altering, opening up new avenues.
Dressed To Impress
Five years of being a widow and trying to get back into dating had taken Samantha into the world of dating apps. A territory she was not familiar with and had navigated with the help of her close friend, Sally. Over the last six months she’d become particularly close to Nick, who’d wanted to take things slowly, suiting her perfectly. It was easier to write and send a text rather than commit to a fuller conversation, but now she had to go on a date. What would she wear? Call Sally.
“Hi, Sally. I’m not sure what to wear.”
Sally was so happy her friend had reached this stage, she blurted out: “Make sure you don’t look like a flump. Wear something sexy but sophisticated!”
“Do I look like a flump?” asked Samantha.
That’s it, the cardinal rule was broken: Don’t say anything that can be construed as negative and, even if you think it, don’t voice it. “No, of course not, I just meant wear something nice.”
“What if he thinks I’m a flump?”
“He won’t think that,” Sally said, her schoolteacher voice intending closure.
“You clearly think I look like a flump, so he will.”
“No, I don’t at all. I was just thinking aloud of my own mistakes,” Sally said, trying to rescue herself.
“Great! What do I wear?”
“Just wear something sexy and sophisticated and you’ll be fine. If you get stuck, wear some of your work clothes. Sorry, I have to go, work call coming in. Good luck!” The phone clicked off.
The next two hours were spent pulling things out and trying them on. Had she really put that much weight on? She made a pile on the bed of the possible ones.
Then she saw the dress her husband had bought her for the job interview. She missed him. He’d believed in her. Yes, this was the dress. She’d take his memories along with her to give her the confidence; after all, he’d always given her a boost before any important event. This was a hugely important milestone for her and she was keeping her promise to him; trying to find love again.
As Samantha travelled in the taxi, she reminisced about the times she’d been out in the past. The outfits she’d worn as a teenager when going to parties. She chuckled. Yes, those parties! The ones you can’t talk about! The sophisticated cocktail parties and the dresses. Oh, the dresses and sparkles. She was free and unattached and had so much fun. She remembered the cocktail dress she was wearing when Jim, her late husband, had noticed her. His eyes had lit up – she’d do anything to see that again.
On entering the restaurant, the waiter took her to the table. Nick looked up and their eyes met. His eyes lit up. She knew it was the ‘perfect dress’!
© Dr Afsana Elanko, 2026
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Here’s hoping spring brings surprises and treats for us all, especially hoping for some fine, less rainy days, though we can all choose what to wear to face the changing weather.
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Issue 27, featuring eco-poet Sarah Westcott is out now. You will be able to find it in libraries and other outlets. Alternatively, all current and previous editions can be found on our magazines page here.
You can hear great new ideas, creative work and writing tips on Write On! Audio. Find us on all major podcast platforms, including Apple and Google Podcasts and Spotify. Type Pen to Print into your browser and look for our logo or find us on Spotify.
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